The Daily Press
BAKER, Calif. — Fire officials rescued two persons trapped in their vehicles after separate crashes occurred on Interstate 15 early Saturday morning.
San Bernardino County Fire Department officials said in a news release that both crashes required extrication and the persons both suffered critical injuries. Another passenger in one of the crashes suffered minor injuries and did not require medical transport.
“Fortunately, both victims were seatbelted at the time of the crash,” officials stated in the release. “Seatbelts save lives.”
The first crash was reported just before 5:30 a.m. Saturday on southbound I-15 north of Afton Road, between Barstow and Baker. Initial reports stated that a vehicle was involved in a rollover crash and one occupant was trapped inside.
County Fire officials dispatched a vehicle extrication assignment, which included Engine 53 from Baker, a paramedic engine and heavy rescue from the Marine Corps Logistics Base Fire Department, as well as a battalion chief. The units arrived 24 minutes after dispatch, officials said, and found the vehicle blocking lanes and occupied by two passengers.
The person trapped was extricated in under 10 minutes using the Jaws of Life, and was airlifted to a nearby landing zone, while the second passenger suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment.
The second crash was reported as fire officials were responding to the first incident, officials said. This crash occurred on northbound Interstate 15 south of Rasor Road, about 13 miles south of Baker, and was also reported to be a rollover crash with one person trapped inside.
A second vehicle extrication assignment was dispatched to respond to the crash, which included a paramedic brush patrol from Helendale and Desert Ambulance from Barstow. The MCLB Fire Department also diverted their equipment from the first crash to assist with the second incident, officials said.
The first arriving chief officer from MCLB confirmed that a person was trapped inside the vehicle and would also require extrication. The trapped person also suffered critical injuries and needed to be airlifted. Extrication was completed in 10 minutes, officials said, and no other injuries were reported.
Both crashes remain under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
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