Date/Time: 12/26/22, 6:12AM
Location: Highway 18, North of 40th Street, San Bernardino
Incident: Over the Side Rescue

Summary:

This morning, #SBCoFD firefighters were dispatched to a reported traffic collision on Highway 18, north of 40th Street in the city of San Bernardino. The 911 caller stated they had located a vehicle over the side & well off the roadway. The call was balanced to an, “Over the Side Rescue” assignment to bring additional personnel and equipment.

Arriving crews found a vehicle approximately 200 feet below the roadway. Firefighter-Paramedics descended down to the vehicle and located one adult female with serious injuries. Crews initiated advanced life support (ALS) interventions while arriving rescuers set up a rope system to safely raise the victim and rescuers. Firefighters utilized specialized Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) equipment, including a capstan raising system to safely haul the members up. Once raised to safety the patient was loaded into an awaiting ambulance for transport to a local trauma center.

The patient had likely been in her crashed vehicle overnight after leaving a family gathering. Family members became concerned after not speaking with her this morning and utilized Apple’s “Find my iPhone” feature to track her whereabouts. Upon investigating the phone’s location they found the vehicle over the side & called 911.

San Bernardino County Fire responded with three Engines, a Heavy Rescue, Truck Company & one Battalion Chief.