“Watch your step, gentlemen,”Iclipped into my radio. “Thestanding water will fry your asses.”
The soles of our boots were made from heat-resistant rubber, but it was better safe than sorry.
It was a delicate dance to get to the trapped driver.Thefront of the car was crushed like a soda can.Ithad rear-ended the first vehicle, who stopped on a dime when a power line fell.
The driver, a teenage girl, had lacerations on her face and chest from the airbag.Shewas sobbing hysterically and clawing at the door.
“Ma’am, my name isJack.I’mwith theCedarIslandFireDepartment.I’mgonna help get you out, all right?We’vegot an ambulance on the way.Canyou tell me where you’re hurt?”Iasked through the open window.
“Everything hurts,” she gasped. “Ican’t get out.I—I—c-can’t?—”
I keyed in my radio. “Someonecall for a medevac.Clearfor a helo to land.”
“Copy,”Drewclipped as he expanded the perimeter and created a landing zone.
“Wharton, you need hydraulics?”Captainasked.
I reached in through the shattered window and unlocked the door from the inside.Thehinges were jammed, but there was a little give.Ibraced and yanked.Thedoor cracked free, letting out a piercing shriek as it opened.
“Negative.Nohydraulics needed.”
Shit.
I was gladIhad made the call to bring in a helicopter, even thoughEMSwas on the way.Herlegs were bent at a grotesque angle from the impact.
“Can you tell me your name?”Iasked asIsliced through her seatbelt.
“J-Jen.”
“How old are you,Jen?”
“Seventeen,” she croaked as tears streamed down her face.
A new driver caught in a situation that more practiced motorists still wouldn’t navigate well.Itwould haunt her, that was for sure.
The buzz and whirr of chainsaws filled the air as the crew went to work on the downed trees.Flashingyellow lights joined the group.
Thank fuck.Itwas about damn time.Awoman and a man from the utility company jumped out and went to work cutting the electricity.Thatwould make things slightly less dire.
“Helo is ten minutes out,” someone said over the radio.
“Copy.”
“Power’s cut,” someone else relayed.
I let out a sharp exhale.Movingthe girl wasn’t optimal.IfIhad to guess, she had two broken legs.Butten minutes was too long to leave her in the car. “Getme a stretcher,”Irequested over the line.
“Copy.”
Drew appeared with the stretcher in tow. “Tellme where you need me.”
An acrid smell filled the air as black smoke began to billow from the front of the crushed car.
Yep.Wehad to move hernow.
“Jen,I’mnot gonna lie.Thisis gonna hurt like hell.Butwe have to get you out and away from the car.”
We were sitting on a ticking time bomb, butIdidn’t want her to panic and fight me.Therewasn’t space for me to get behind her and forDrewto get her knees.
