For our deputies, courage is an inherent quality they must demonstrate on a daily basis – sometimes at great personal risk.
You probably heard about the tanker truck collision that occurred Monday morning at the intersection of Highway 26 and Stone Road east of Gresham. Our deputies responded and were first to arrive.
Upon arrival, the first two deputies discovered that the driver of the tanker truck, while visibly injured, was out of the truck, but that the driver of the pickup truck was trapped in his vehicle and unconscious.
The situation was dire. The tanker, which was transporting gasoline, had burst into flames; the first out of two cargo tanks had already exploded. They knew the clock was ticking, as the second tank was also at risk of exploding.
Two more deputies arrived, and together, the team of four approached the pickup truck, which was well within the blast zone. They tried valiantly to break the truck’s window, but nothing seemed to work. The deputies could feel the intense heat from the encroaching flames and knew they were in significant danger, but they did not give up.
As efforts to rescue the man continued, two more deputies arrived and began evacuating nearby homes. The size of the fire and possible second explosion posed significant risks. Meanwhile, another pair of deputies blocked traffic on the highway, creating a safe place for emergency crews to work, while reducing additional risks to the community.
As the team of deputies continued to attempt to break the truck’s window, a deputy located a tow hitch ball mount. The strength of the tow hitch mount instantly shattered the glass. The deputies quickly released the driver from his seatbelt and pulled him from the vehicle. The driver was motionless, but breathing. Just moments after carrying him away from the wreckage, his pickup truck burst into flames.
The driver was put on a stretcher and transported to a Portland trauma center for immediate care. The deputies then retreated to a safer location.
Oregon State Police shared their admiration for our deputies’ lifesaving efforts, saying in part, “had they not pulled the driver from the vehicle as the flames were approaching, he would have most definitely perished.”
We cannot say it enough, we are extremely proud of these deputies, and all of our members, who demonstrate courage and honor in serving our community.
Image description: An MCSO deputy assists another deputy clean themselves after successfully rescuing the driver, as the tanker truck explodes into an inferno. Photo courtesy: Gresham Fire Department
Original source can be found here.
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