Chattanooga, TN – Chattanooga firefighters carried out a demanding rescue operation Sunday evening in Hixson after a tree fell onto a moving vehicle, trapping the driver.
Emergency crews were dispatched at 5:28 p.m. to the 6600 block of Sandswitch Road, where a single-car accident had left the driver pinned inside her car. Officials stated that a large tree, apparently cut down by someone, fell at the exact moment the vehicle was passing by, crushing the car.
Firefighters used specialized tools, including cribbing and airbags, to stabilize the scene and lift the tree. They removed the car’s doors to access the driver, who was pinned beneath the tree, windshield, and dashboard. The challenging extrication required extensive teamwork and technical expertise.
The driver was freed and transported to the hospital with injuries to her lower body. A child in the car was uninjured and had been rescued by bystanders before first responders arrived.
Crews from Engine 22, Squad 7, Squad 19, Squad 1, and two battalions responded. Chattanooga police, Hamilton County EMS, and EPB also assisted. Authorities are investigating the incident.