Despite Dangerous Conditions, Patient Rescued from Under Antietam Creek Bridge

Hagerstown, MD – Emergency services personnel successfully extracted an individual who was trapped in an inaccessible location beneath the Dual Highway bridge over Antietam Creek earlier this morning. The joint operation involved the Hagerstown Fire Department and Community Rescue Service, with additional support from the Hagerstown Police Department and fire police providing crucial traffic control.

The incident began with reports of a male subject in distress along the bridge, calling for assistance. Responding units from the Hagerstown Fire Department, including Engine 3 and Truck 3, were dispatched to the scene on Dual Highway and Eastern Boulevard North. Upon arrival, command was established, and the complexity of the situation became apparent: the patient was located on the west side of the creek, requiring a specialized rescue approach.

Firefighters determined that a high-angle rescue would be necessary to safely reach and extricate the individual. This involved utilizing the bridge structure to lower rescue equipment. The operation required careful coordination to ensure the safety of both the patient and the rescue personnel. Traffic management was paramount, with fire police closing lanes on the Dual Highway to create a secure work zone. Concerns regarding the presence of uncapped needles in the vicinity were also noted, necessitating caution during the operation.

The rescue involved specialized equipment, including a stokes basket to secure the patient and rigging to facilitate the vertical lift. Throughout the process, clear communication was maintained between the command post, rescue teams, and support units, leading to the successful rescue. The patient was secured in the rescue basket and lifted to the roadway. Following the patient’s safe arrival on the roadway and subsequent transport to the hospital by Community Rescue Service, emergency operations were concluded.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from Hagerstown Fire Department and public safety radio through OpenMHz.com.

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