While our County Fair was in progress Monday afternoon and evening, a life and death struggle was occurring south of Fort Morgan following the crash of two trucks. A grain tender carrying flaked corn crashed broadside into a refrigerated trailer hauling frozen beef, with the cab of the tender, and it’s driver, crushed and completely buried inside the trailer. Initial responders could only speak to the driver through the wreckage and it was probably 30 minutes before rescuers could dig and climb their way through the trailer to cut a hole big enough to even see the driver. Two fire departments struggled for the next 4 hours…yes four hours, before they were able to finally remove that young man from his seat. I have seen a lot of wrecks in my basically 40 years of emergency response, but this one was a once-in-a-career operation. I don’t remember another incident where so many tools were used during a single rescue operation. Being able to watch the work of these guys (and ladies) was one of the most memorable I will have. “Kudos, tip of the cap, good job”, doesnt even come close to recognizing the efforts of all involved in trying to save the life of this young man. Brush and Fort Morgan firefighters, you guys rock. A special thanks to Brandon Kroskob and Chance Middlemist, and Stratton Kraft who brought large loaders in to help move and stabilize wreckage and especially to Barry Lebsock of Lebsock’s Repair for his big wrecker and truck expertise. Fort Morgan Pet Foods employees helped to off-load and move hundreds of pounds of blocks of frozen meat from the trailer. We could not have pulled this off without their help. When all was said and done, there were close to 50 personnel on-scene from the Fort Morgan and Brush Fire Departments, Morgan County Ambulance, North Colorado Med Evac, Morgan County Emergency Management, Morgan County Road and Bridge, Colorado State Patrol and Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. And finally prayers for this young man and his family - he’s got a long road ahead of him but this kid is a hell of a fighter with the patience of Job, to maintain himself, badly injured, for that length of time.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 18:49:08 +0000