Jaws of Life Used to Save Trapped Driver on US 87

SAN ANGELO, TX - At about 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, emergency responders were dispatched to a crash with entrapment on US 87.

The vehicle was traveling in the southbound lane on US 87, when, for an unknown reason, it hit the guardrail and rolled onto the median in between the north and southbound lanes of US 87. The vehicle is currently resting on its side partially underneath the bridge. Emergency responders are currently cutting through the windshield to get inside and remove the trapped driver.

We will provide more details once available.

Update 3:45 p.m.

This afternoon, the Grape Creek Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched with the San Angelo Fire Department for the report of a one-vehicle rollover on US 87 North and the north Chadbourne bridge.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and rolled the pickup over onto the driver side.

“That person was trapped in the vehicle for an extended period of time,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jose Rivera with the GCVFD.

However, through a team effort, the emergency responders extricated the driver safely without further injury. They transported him to Shannon Medical Center for further medical evaluation.

“This is a very unique accident because it was on a decline,” said Rivera. “It was a very unstable environment for the staff and the victim. But with all of our rescue tools, we were able to stabilize the vehicle and extricate the victim safely without incident.”

The number one priority, River said, was stabilizing the vehicle between the two bridges. Once accomplished, they used the Jaws of Life to “make a cut on the vehicle.” Rescuers also used hydraulic jacks to lift the vehicle up off the patient.

As a volunteer firefighter, Rivera said he was proud to work together with the other San Angelo agencies in this situation.