A semi-truck driver was left dangling on the side of a bridge in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday after a vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and hit a tractor-trailer, authorities said.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg revealed new details at a news conference Saturday about what led to the dramatic rescue on the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, which connects Louisville to southern Indiana over the Ohio River.
The first collision was reported around 12:15pm local time. after a southbound vehicle struck the stalled car and crossed into the northbound lanes, where it struck a tractor-trailer, crashed through a guardrail and dangled precariously over the edge of the bridge. said Greenberg.
The driver remained trapped in the taxi as rescuers scrambled to set up a rope that firefighter Bryce Carden rappelled down to rescue the woman.
Kentucky hero who saved semi-truck driver hanging from bridge identified
A driver was rescued from a semi-truck dangling in the Ohio River after a crash on a bridge in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday. (WDRB)
Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said Friday that it took rescue workers 40 minutes to set up ropes on the bridge as the driver remained trapped in the dangling cab.
Dramatic video showed Carden rappelling down to the cab, attaching the driver to a safety harness and lifting him safely onto the bridge. Officials said the woman was rescued safely.
Louisville firefighter Bryce Carden (pictured above) rappelled down to the dangling taxi cab to rescue the driver. Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said the rescuers were “some serious heroes.” (Louisville Fire Department)
Driver pulled from truck dangling from Louisville bridge over Ohio River in dramatic rescue
The driver’s identity has not yet been released, but Greenberg said he spoke with the woman.
“She’s incredibly brave. She’s incredibly lucky,” he said.
The driver of a semi-truck was pulled to safety by firefighters after a three-vehicle crash on a bridge connecting Louisville, Kentucky, and southern Indiana. (Louisville Fire Department, via AP)
Police said three other vehicles were involved in the crash, and two people were taken to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.
Louisville firefighter Bryce Carden rescued a semi-truck driver dangling from the Clark Memorial Bridge over the Ohio River on Friday. (Louisville Fire Department, via AP)
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Kentucky State Highway Engineer James Ballinger said Saturday that the bridge needs repairs, especially the pedestrian walkway, after the crash, but its structural integrity is intact.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
