Clearwater Towing hooked a cable to the semi truck to stabilize it so emergency responders could begin extricating the driver.
Seeley Lake Fire Department volunteers work to cut the roof off the cab of the truck. They used the winch on a second truck from Clearwater Towing to help pull the cab apart.
The wreck scattered lumber all the way down the slope to the bank of the Clearwater River.
The semi took out 350 feet of guard rail on the north end of Salmon Lake, shredding the metal and breaking off the posts as it slid and rolled down the bank.
SEELEY LAKE – Just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 a semi truck loaded with milled lumber lost control and took out 350 feet of guardrail along the north end of Salmon Lake. The vehicle rolled, scattering lumber down the hill. No other vehicles were involved and the driver was transported to Missoula with minor injuries.
According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Billy Muñoz, the truck driver from Utah was traveling south from Columbia Falls, Mont. headed to Idaho. Around mile marker 8 on Highway 83, he lost control of the truck and trailer.
"He came into that curve too fast and couldn't control the vehicle," said Muñoz.
The truck and trailer rolled and came to rest on the driver's side, stopping in the ditch of the southbound lane. The driver, who was wearing his seat belt and the only occupant in the vehicle, was trapped.
Muñoz said members of the public stopped at the scene and called 9-1-1. One man got on top of the cab on the passenger side and communicated with the driver. They all stayed at the scene until emergency responders arrived.
"I really appreciate the motorists that showed up," said Muñoz. "They were the first on scene. They did everything they could."
Volunteers from the Seeley Lake Fire Department arrived as well as Clearwater Towing. Clearwater Towing used a tow truck to lock onto the bottom of the truck to prevent it from shifting down the hill or rolling. Emergency responders then began the extrication.
"It is our practice to remove the vehicle from the patient not the patient from the vehicle because we don't know what types of injuries [the patient may have]," said Seeley Lake Fire Chief Dave Lane. "It is best to be cautious."
Muñoz said Clearwater Towing also brought another truck and additional tools to assist with the extrication. Volunteers cut the truck apart and Clearwater Towing used a cable to pull the roof of the cab away. The driver was freed after an hour of responders removing the cab from around him. He was transported to Missoula by Missoula Emergency Services, Inc. (MESI) for minor injuries.
"Since MESI was already coming, we continued them and they were used for transport," said Lane.
Muñoz said the driver was very fortunate as well as all of the other motorists on the roadway. Had the truck slid into the northbound lane, instead of sliding off into the ditch, there could have been serious injuries to other motorists and complete blockage with debris scattered all over the roadway.
Even though emergency responders were clear of the scene around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night, cleanup of the semi truck, trailer and the lumber continued the next day.
Lane appreciated the work by the 10 volunteers that were on scene. He added that Clearwater Towing, Missoula County Sheriff's Office and Highway Patrol did a great job.
"It took a lot of patience because there were a lot of things to consider during the extrication," said Lane who was grateful for everyone's help. "We did have a couple bystanders stop and help and that was appreciated."
Muñoz appreciated how everyone worked together and maintained safety for responders, passing motorists and the driver.
"You could definitely see the community effort of first responders," Muñoz said. "We all had our roles and in the end we got it done."
Reader Comments(0)