Three people escaped without injury after their vehicle went through a guardrail and came to rest approximately 70 feet down an embankment along Interstate 79 southbound near the 133-mile marker during the early hours of August 2.
Initial reports indicated the driver was unconscious and the passengers were still inside the vehicle. However, when emergency crews arrived, they found all three occupants had managed to escape from the vehicle.
Marion County Rescue Squad assessed all three people at the scene and found them unharmed.
Overnight Crash Prompts Major Emergency Response
Valley Volunteer Fire Department volunteers were alerted to the crash in the middle of the night at approximately 2:40 a.m. following reports of a vehicle accident with entrapment.
According to the department, an iPhone crash notification was received, along with a passenger report that the vehicle had gone over an embankment.
Multiple emergency vehicles from the Valley Volunteer Fire Department, including a utility vehicle, a rescue squad, and two fire engines, were dispatched to the scene.
Vehicle Found Beyond Guardrail in Wooded Area
Deputy Chief 12, responding in Utility 127, arrived at the entrance to the Kingmont off-ramp at the 133-mile marker and found a single vehicle that had gone through the guardrail before coming to rest approximately 70 feet down an embankment in a heavily wooded area.
The Kingmont off-ramp was closed while emergency crews worked at the scene.
Firefighters later assisted Hawkins Towing with recovering the vehicle before Valley Volunteer Fire Department returned to service after operating at the incident for approximately three and a half hours.
The cause of the crash has not been released.
Social Media Praises Volunteer Firefighters
The incident prompted an outpouring of support for the emergency responders on social media, with many expressing relief that everyone involved escaped safely.
One commenter wrote: “It’s so easy to hydroplane on that new pavement, especially with how the rain just collects in puddles on the road. Thank God they were okay!”
Others thanked the Valley Volunteer Fire Department for its response, with comments including “Thank you, Valley Volunteer FD,” “Another job well done!! Thank you!”, “Thank you, volunteers,” and “Great work.”
Many also praised the dedication of volunteer firefighters, with one person writing: “Thank you, God, for our volunteer fire departments. You are greatly appreciated. Our country survives on the tireless hours you firefighters and medics provide for our communities.”
Volunteer fire departments play a vital role in protecting their communities, responding to emergencies at all hours of the day and night.
The response to this Interstate 79 crash served as another reminder of the dedication and commitment of these emergency crews, ensuring residents’ safety in some of the most challenging situations.