CA First Responders Free Teen Stuck in Escalator

Aug. 1, 2022
Orange County Fire Authority firefighters and paramedics worked over an hour to free a girl whose hand became stuck in the handrail of an escalator.

Orange County Fire Authority firefighters and paramedics worked over an hour Sunday evening to free a girl whose hand became stuck in the handrail of an escalator at the Main Place Mall in Santa Ana.

Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Michael Morganstern told KTLA 5 that crews arrived at the scene to find the victim’s hand trapped in the escalator handrail.

“I don’t know how this happened,” Morganstern said while describing the incident.

The teen was deemed to be in stable condition so crews worked to dismantle a portion of the escalator without causing further injury to the victim or damage to the property.

Firefighters used tools to cut away the machinery and free the teenage girl.

Capt. Greg Barta told FOX 11 that once freed, paramedics took the girl to a hospital.