Long Beach Fire Department Dive Team makes rescue from submerged SUV

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BladesRobinson

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Woman in critical condition after driving off Shoemaker Bridge (Video)

Woman in critical condition after driving off 7th Street Bridge

Lizeth Pimentel is in critical condition at St. Mary Medical Center tonight after her SUV drove through the guardrail of the 710 Freeway and careened over the edge of the 7th Street Bridge this morning at 7:30 a.m. (Thursday, March 11.)
The Long Beach Fire Department responded to calls that a vehicle had overturned off of the northbound lanes of the 710 Freeway and into the Los Angeles River. The first arriving LBFD Unit Rescue One, confirmed the vehicle in the water and soon the Long Beach fire and police departments, California Highway Patrol, and other local, state and federal agencies were all working together on the rescue effort.
Approximately twenty-five minutes later, the LBFD Marine Safety division deployed a dive team to locate the vehicle and rescue any victims inside. The team conducted search operations “by feel” in a depth of 15 feet, with almost zero visibility and a strong current, and found the vehicle sitting on the bottom of the river.
After being submerged in the vehicle for nearly half an hour, a female victim was rescued from the rear of the SUV. She was pulled up onto a rescue boat and transferred to land where paramedics began cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other advanced life-saving procedures. The victim, later identified as 24-year-old Lizeth Pimentel, was transported to a local hospital where she remains in critical condition.
An infant car seat reinforced initial reports that there might be multiple victims in the vehicle. However, officers were able to make contact with the Pimentel’s family who confirmed that she should be the only occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
The Urban Search and Rescue team removed the SUV from the river using a large “Wrecker” and conducted a thorough search of the area. The LBPD and the CHP are conducting a joint investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
The Shoemaker Bridge, which connects 7th Street and the 710 Freeway, has been the site of accidents before. Congresswoman Laura Richardson included the bridge and its adjoining ramps in her request for federal funds last year.
“The bridge and its ramps were constructed over fifty years ago and do not meet current Caltrans design standards regarding transportation safety and mobility,” stated Richardson, citing the need to improve deficiencies and increase motorist safety. In July, Congress awarded $1 million in federal appropriations for construction on the bridge.

SEE PHOTOS AND VIDEO AT THE LINK ABOVE.
 
:cool3: Wow! Thanks for the post. I'm glad the victim is still alive.
 
The press doesn't always get things right and sometimes there is a terrible coincidence of circumstances beyond anyones control, but the following news report shows an unfavorable side to the underwater rescue that took place earlier this week.

Check out:
Woman who plunged off Long Beach bridge still critical - Press-Telegram

I will agree with the PIO though. The team has a lot to be proud of and I commend them for their efforts. In the video, we can see how strong the current is and how poor the visibility is. The PSDs on this forum will know that the vehicle is not likely to be directly under the broken guardrail on the bridge. A response by boat, getting the boat anchored (or tied off) properly, deploying divers safely (in current) and possibly having to set up a down river rescue team to support the dive team takes time.

I am sure this incident will allow ALL OF US to learn and pre-plan how we might do better in our own community.

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE...
There was an interesting segment on the NBC Today Show about the successful outcome of a toddler who suffered a near-drowning event. He was saved using "medically induced hypothermia." PSD professionals may benefit from viewing the segment at: Toddler is OK after being pronounced DOA - People: Tales of survival

Wishing all safe diving and clear waters,

Blades Robinson
 
KUDOS AGAIN TO THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPT DIVE TEAM!!!


Victim in river crash improving

RESCUE: Lizeth Pimentel is still in critical condition.
By Kelly Puente
Staff Writer
Posted: 03/15/2010 05:26:16 PM PDT
Updated: 03/15/2010 06:04:27 PM PDT



LONG BEACH - A woman who was pulled from murky water when her SUV plunged off a bridge into the Los Angeles River remained in critical condition but was showing slight signs of improvements, a hospital official said Monday.

Lizeth Pimentel is being kept under medical sedation while doctors run more tests, said Daa'iyah Jordan, a St. Mary Medical Center spokeswoman. On Monday, her eyes showed slight signs of movement, giving doctors and family hope that the mother will eventually recover, she said.

Pimentel suffered severe bruising and swelling of the brain tissue when her SUV plunged off the Seventh Street bridge Thursday morning. Earlier reports said Pimentel was submerged for about 30 minutes as rescuers worked to bring her up. An official timeline is still under investigation, authorities said. Jordan said the hospital plans to release more details on Pimentel's condition in the next few days.

FROM: Victim in river crash improving - ContraCostaTimes.com
 
FROM: Woman saved from river breathes on her own - ContraCostaTimes.com

Woman saved from river breathes on her own

LONG BEACH - Lizeth Pimentel, the 24-year-old mother pulled from the Los Angeles River on March 11, is in stable condition and breathing on her own, hospital officials said Friday.

Earlier reports said Pimentel was submerged for nearly 30 minutes after her vehicle plunged some 40 feet off a northbound Long Beach (710) Freeway bridge. A timeline is still under investigation.

According to the police investigation, the cause of the accident was a combination of speeding and inattentiveness, said Nancy Pratt, Long Beach Police spokeswoman.

When Pimentel arrived at the hospital she was in "very critical condition," unconscious and on a ventilator, hospital officials said.

According to Daai'yah Jordan, St. Mary Medical Center spokeswoman, Pimentel is out of ICU and has opened her eyes, but is not considered awake since she has not focused on anything.

Jordan said the hospital plans to release more details on Pimentel's condition Tuesday. The family is also expected to release a statement at that time.
 
LongBeachReport.com | LBReport.com | What Happened When This Car Went Into the L.A. River? Hear Extended Audio Of LBFD Radio Communications During Response

The dispatch audio is available online at the above link.

The press release from Long Beach Fire Rescue reads...

The first arriving LBFD Unit Rescue One (1), confirmed the vehicle in the water causing the subsequent request for additional resources to manage the incident. A Unified Command (UC) was established on the Seventh Street Bridge with the LBFD, LBPD, CHP, and other local, state and federal agencies.
The Land based UC coordinated operations with the LBFD Marine Safety division, to deploy their dive team in an attempt to locate the vehicle and rescue any victims inside. The first divers entered the water in approximately twenty-five minutes from the time of dispatch. The depth of the water searched was approximately fifteen feet; with almost zero visibility, and a strong current present.

The initial search operations were conducted by "Feel" and forcible entry was required to enter certain areas of the vehicle, an infant car seat was located during this operation which further re-enforced the initial information that there might be multiple victims in the vehicle.

The vehicle was found sitting on the bottom of the river on its wheels with the rear hatch facing to the East when a single female victim, approximately twenty years of age was rescued from this location. She was pulled up onto a Rescue Boat and immediately transferred to land based Firefighters and Paramedics who began Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and other Advanced Life Saving (ALS) procedures.

Subsequently law enforcement through their investigative process was able to make contact with the victim’s relatives who confirmed that she should be the only occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The single victim was transported from the scene to a local hospital for continued medical treatment. Approximately one hour after the incident reports are that she is in "Critical Conditions, responding to treatment with her family at the hospital."

The vehicle was removed from the river using a large "Wrecker" with the coordinated effort of the Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) team and the dive team working together to complete a safe and efficient operation.

A secondary check of the vehicle was conducted on shore with other water based resources checking "Down Stream" to ensure that there was only one victim. Currently the LBPD and the CHP are conducting a joint investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Information on the victim will be forth coming on the direction of the family either through a direct representative or through the hospital.

...A total of 22 apparatus and 43 personnel responded to this call, from the LBFD in addition to other partnering agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.



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Ok, good story, but where in the world did they find water deeper than 3' in the Los Angeles river?
 
Ok, good story, but where in the world did they find water deeper than 3' in the Los Angeles river?

...Immediately adjacent to the 710 Freeway / 7th Street Bridge in Long Beach.
 
If you live in L.A. you would understand that 90% of the Los Angeles river is 6" deep and 4' wide the majority of the year. :D
 

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