Alexandria Fire Department Frees Child Pinned Under SUV

ALEXANDRIA, VA – A child was freed from underneath an SUV by the Alexandria Fire Department earlier in October, according to the city government.

The accident occurred on Oct. 6 when the girl was struck by an SUV in the 600 block of North Ripley Street, the City of Alexandria reports. The girl was conscious but pinned beneath the vehicle’s front axle.

The Alexandria Fire Department responded, but rather than wait for the Rescue Company and its heavy extraction equipment to arrive, they were able to use their ground ladders to first lift the vehicle’s weight from the girl and then create enough space to pull her from underneath it.

The girl was freed within six minutes of AFD arriving on the scene, the city says. She was taken to a hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The city highlighted the response as an example of teamwork, adaptability and quick thinking in an emergency.