By Thomas Gase
Times-Herald
VALLEJO, Calif. — Two Vallejo firefighters were injured during a rescue effort in a two-vehicle collision Wednesday morning in Vallejo that left two victims in critical condition.
Just past 8:30 a.m., a white two-door Sedan hit a City Of Vallejo Maintenance vehicle from behind. Vallejo firefighters, having just put out a vegetation fire nearby, were on the scene quickly.
On arrival, Engine 22 came across the white Sedan that was already engulfed in flames with the driver trapped inside and unresponsive.
A Vallejo police officer used a fire extinguisher to control the fire spread before two firefighters began a rescue attempt of the person in the white Sedan.
“At the same time we noticed that the victim in the car was incapacitated and unable to escape the vehicle on their own,” Vallejo firefighter and spokesperson Aaron Klauber said. “Firefighters used the side window to pull the victim out.”
The victim “has a long way to go” in recovery according to Klauber, but was alive when delivered to a local trauma center. Klauber said the use of Tranexamic Acid, a groundbreaking medication used to reduce uncontrolled bleeding in trauma patients, played a key role in saving the person. Firefighters also used a needle decompression to help save the person’s life.
The driver in the City of Vallejo Maintenance vehicle was taken to a nearby hospital. Klauber said the incident had no fatalities as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Vallejo Police Officer and Public Information Officer Rashad Hollis confirmed no fatalities as of 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday .
Meanwhile, two firefighters were dealing with injuries from the rescue effort. One firefighter had burn injuries, while the other suffered injuries due to a fall. Klauber said he expected both of them to be released from the hospital later on Wednesday.
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