New Westminster crash traps woman in car
The driver of a grey sedan is in stable condition after a crash crushed the side of her vehicle, trapping her early Saturday morning in New Westminster, B.C.
The collision happened just before 1 a.m. at the intersection of McBride Boulevard and 8th Avenue.
Katrina Huberman says she was stopped at the intersection, waiting to make a left turn, when the crash happened right in front of her.
She alleges the driver of a northbound car-hauling flat deck truck ran a red light, and struck the westbound car on the driver side.
"It was shocking, definitely, mostly because I should have been turning, and I would have been turning, and I would have been the one to be hit if she hadn't gone through," said Huberman.
"I'm still a little bit shaken up."
Huberman said she immediately pulled over and called 911. The operator told her to check on the driver, who Huberman estimates is in her mid-20s.
"She was talking. She was obviously in pain and it was definitely hard to see," said Huberman. "I just hope that she's okay."
Captain Jeff Cartwright with New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services said crews arrived to find the driver trapped in the driver's seat, with bent metal pinching her legs and torso.
"We attempted to just pull a door off, but upon pulling the door off, we found there was quite a bit of impingement. So it was a very tricky extrication," said Cartwright.
Firefighters used several power tools to cut and remove other pieces from the car, including the entire roof.
"B.C. Ambulance was very supportive of us, we worked together as a team," said Cartwright. "We sort of allowed them to get into our extrication scene so they could start an IV and maintain life."
"I'm so proud of my crew, I'm so proud of [Emergency Health Services] and police. Everyone worked together as a team. This is a great example of all the different units working together," Cartwright said.
The driver of the truck was not injured.
The intersection was closed for several hours while New Westminster police investigated the crash.
