Dramatic State Highway rescue saves family and car
3 August 2011
The crews pose with their special safety awards
A Transpower Alliance foundation crew became local heroes last week when they assisted a family in distress, after their car caught fire on a busy stretch of State Highway One, near Tokoroa.
Several Alliance vehicles were first on the scene and immediately took control, coordinating traffic management and emergency procedures, while waiting for fire services to arrive.
The team exhausted five fire extinguishers and then used the welding water reservoirs on the trucks to finally douse the stubborn engine fire, while other crew members managed the heavy flow of highway traffic.
Transpower Alliance, 8 x 8 truck driver Gary Simpson, said that it was second nature to roll out their fire training and traffic management skills after being first on the scene.
“We didn’t think twice when we came across the burning car. All our training and experience kicked into gear.”
“It’s good to think that the training and up skilling you learn on the job can be useful in other situations. We’re really pleased that we able to help out and that no one was hurt,” he said.
The quick reactions from the team meant that no one was injured and the car was saved. Their efforts were praised by the driver of the car and his family, and the emergency services.
Last week the crews were presented with a special safety award in recognition of their actions.