A truck driver was dramatically rescued after his cargo truck plunged off a snowy highway in West Virginia, leaving the cab perilously hanging from a bridge nearly 100 feet above the ground.
The Hurricane Fire Department received an emergency call about a vehicle accident on Route 35 in Mason County at around 6:25 a.m. However, this incident was far from routine.
Upon arrival, responders found the large tractor-trailer cab suspended over the edge of the bridge, with the driver inside anxiously watching as it dangled dangerously.
A mix of local emergency responders gathered at the scene, alongside bystanders who were recording videos and taking pictures of the difficult sight. The highway was quickly closed to facilitate the rescue.
Using several fire trucks and emergency vehicles, teams set up a rescue operation. Local authorities deployed two large tow trucks, utilizing three different rope systems—one to anchor to the bridge and another to secure the truck itself, preventing it from falling to the ground below.
Emergency personnel did their best to place vehicles optimally, which allowed for a challenging rope rescue. They carefully lowered the cab to free the endangered driver.
Westley Quinn, a volunteer firefighter with the Hurricane Fire Department, made a bold move by throwing himself from the bridge into the truck cab, where he then secured the driver with a harness.
After hanging for roughly five hours, the driver was ultimately brought to safety.
Mason County Commission Chairman Rick Hundley praised the bravery of the local fire departments, highlighting the collaborative efforts that made it possible to save the truck driver, with help coming from areas like Hurricane, Point Pleasant, Winfield, Buffalo, St. Albans, Nitro, and Tees Valley.
