Photos & Story by
GEORGE E. LUCIA, SR., Fire Investigator/Vista Fire Department

On June 27, 2002, at 1600 hours, the Vista Fire Department was dispatched to a reported rollover of a concrete mixer/transport truck in the area of Edgehill Road.

Vista is Southern California City and district area made up of 40 square miles of canyons, rural, city and industrial parks. The population is 100,000 people and the fire protection is provided by the City of Vista Fire Department. The VFD is made up of 70 career firefighters and staff with 4 stations. VFD provides EMS. Fire and heavy rescue service along with fire investigation and fire prevention services.

The Rescue response dispatched Battalion 1203 Chief Norton along with Engine 1213, Truck 1271, Rescue 1251, and Rescue Ambulance 1291. First on scene E 1213 reported an overturned heavy-duty truck overturn with the driver injured and trapped in the cab.

The area is a mountain and canyon terrain. The single family construction site is at the top of the canyon. The driveway access was a steep grade. The 45000-pound tandem concrete mixer trucks had been backing up the steep grade and delivering their loads at the top. This truck proceeded forward up the driveway. At the crest of the driveway the liquid concrete in the mixer shifted to the rear causing the truck to become unstable and slide backwards off the driveway and downward at a 30 percent grade into the canyon more than more 1000 feet. The trucked rolled over a number of times before it came to a rest just before the access roadway. Had the truck continued down past the roadway, the canyon continued down another 2000 feet.

Engine 1213 reported a 35-year-old male trapped in the cab of the truck. He was conscious and responsive but had been bounced around the cab of the truck. The truck was loaded with 7 yards of concrete and was leaking hydraulic oil.

Battalion 1203 continued the rescue response and ordered an air ship to the scene. Dispatched confirmed Mercy Air out of Riverside County with an ETA of 30 Minutes.

The Rescue group (truck 1271 & R1251) worked to clear brush and trees with chain saws to access the truck and confirmed that the truck was stable. Hydraulic cutters and spreaders were used to cut the roof and gain access through the rear of the cab. The victim was placed on a backboard and removed to ambulance 1294 for stabilization and assessment.

Engine 1213 prepared the landing zone, a flat area in an adjacent construction site. The area had to be wet down to prevent dust and debris from kicking up during landing and take off. Mercy air was on site and the victim was loaded aboard for transport to Palamor Trauma Center. Fire Investigators ordered the truck to remain in place until a removal plan was submitted that did not include torch or spark emitting tools due to the high fire hazard of the canyon area.