Canby Fire Frees Victim from Crash Wreckage

The patient was airlifted by Lifeflight and transported to Emanuel hospital.

Photo courtesy: Troy Buzaksly/Canby Fire

(CANBY, Ore.) - Canby Fire teams were called out this morning after a four-door Saturn Sedan crashed into a power pole in the 24500 block of S. Central Point Road around 8:00 AM.

Fire Spokesman Troy Buzalsky says that when firefighters arrived, they found that both airbags had been deployed and the one occupant, and adult male, was unconscious and trapped in the drivers seat.

"Firefighters quickly stabilized the vehicle and started the careful extrication process, which included popping out all the windows, flattening the tires, and cutting the roof off the vehicle so they could remove the injured occupant."

He says that once the vehicle was prepped, firefighters removed the victim through the passenger-side door. During the extrication process firefighters had to be aware of their surrounding and the associated hazards, which included overhead powerlines that were attached to the power pole the vehicle struck.

Buzalsky syas the victim was extricated from the wreckage after painstakingly untangling his legs from the under-dash and foot pedals. Crews then quickly transported the victim to a Lifeflight Landing Zone, where Lifeflight was standing by.

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"Based on the nature of the impact and the subsequent vehicular damage, firefighters were concern with possible head, neck, and thoracic injuries, all which have the potential of being life-threatening injuries." He says the victim was entered in the trauma system.

The patient was airlifted by Lifeflight and transported to Emanuel hospital.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office will be conduction the crash scene investigation.