Fire Department

Firefighters on Engine 3 were asked to assist Medic 3 with a patient who was locked inside her minivan Sunday evening.

The minivan was running, and in Drive, as firefighters and paramedics tried to gain access to the vehicle. Chocks were placed behind both rear wheels, and one chock was placed on the right front tire. As responders were retrieving a second chock for the remaining front wheel, the minivan began to accelerate.

The on-scene fire lieutenant broke the driver’s side window in an attempt to unlock the door and place the vehicle in Park, but that’s when the van took off.

The front of the van went up vertically, leaving a tire mark approximately four or five feet high on the rear door of the ambulance, and ultimately rolled over and came to a rest on the driver’s side.

Firefighters chopped out the windshield and removed the patient from the vehicle before she was transported to the hospital.

Pictured: Medic 3 with tire marks