At 3:45 PM on Friday January 29th Depoe Bay Firefighters were dispatched to a two vehicle accident on HWY 101 at Cape Foulweather. According to State Police the driver of a BMW SUV was traveling southbound on hwy 101 when for an unknown reason the driver crossed the center line and collided with an oncoming PT Cruiser. The initial report was of two vehicles multiple injuries, with one vehicle down a 30 foot embankment. Once on scene it was confirmed the initial report was accurate. Additional resources from Newport Fire Department and Pacific West ambulance were requested to the scene.
Firefighters use ladders and ropes to gain access to the victims trapped in the vehicle down the embankment. The jaws of life was used to extricate the patient out of thew car while addition firefighters, police and medical personnel were used to hoist the victims back up to the highway. A total of three patients two from the BMW and the passenger in the PT Cruiser were transported to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital with non life threatening injuries.
When all human patients were safely under medical care and transported, Depoe Bay Firefighters turned to the final victim traded in the second car up on the highway. According to Depoe Bay Fire Chief Joshua Williams “a large breed dog was wedged under the passenger seat of a vehicle, the dogs head was in the front foot area, and the rear paws were in the back” “The entire length to the dog was trapped under the seat and unable to be freed.”
This is when Depoe Bay Firefighters used the same too that had just freed the people involved in the accident, the “jaws of Life” The seat was taken apart as much as possible, and hydraulic spreaders and cutters were used. Within about 10 minutes the dog was freed. The dog was taken to a local veterinary clinic and is in the care of the Lincoln County Animal shelter.
” We do not know the extent o the injuries of the dog, but it looked like he/she was doing OK” stated Chief Williams. This serves as a good lesson that even our four legged friends should have restraints when traveling down the road.Depoe Bay Fire was assisted by Newport Fire Department, Oregon State Police, Lincoln County Sheriff Deputies and ODOT.
Information and photo provided by Depoe Bay Fire and OSP
