Cement truck topples onto Mercedes

A La Crescenta woman escaped serious injury Saturday morning when a cement mixer toppled onto the car she was driving.

The accident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of the cement mixer, a 39-year-old Whittier man, was traveling westbound at an excessive rate of speed on Foothill Boulevard when he attempted to make a right turn onto Briggs Avenue. Due to his speed, the momentum forced the mixer to tip over, landing on top of the 2006 Mercedes. The driver of the Mercedes was at the Alice Olson, 54, of La Crescenta.

Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station and Los Angeles County Fire, Glendale Fire and the City of Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene.

LACoFD firefighter Dane Bode from station 82 was one of the first engines on the scene.

“When we got there [one] engine was on scene,” he said.

According to Bode, rescuers cut most of the Mercedes’ roof off while the cement truck was still on the vehicle. Olson was speaking to firefighters the entire time they were working on the vehicle.

“The steering column was pressed against her leg, we pulled the column up to relieve pressure on her [even before the truck was lifted],” Bode said.

Air bags were inflated under the cement truck while a heavy rescue crane from LAFD pulled from the top to lift the vehicle. Then another heavy rescue unit put a cable around a light pole on Briggs Avenue and attached it to the Mercedes. As the truck was lifted, the Mercedes was pulled out from under it.

Bode added he was impressed at how well all the agencies worked together.

As they worked a good-size crowd of residents gathered to watch firefighters in action. Among those that had stopped to watch were friends of the injured woman, Bruce Bolger, his wife Trish and teenage daughter Amanda. They drove past the accident shortly after it occurred and recognized the black Mercedes.

“I thought, ‘Oh my God — it was Alice’s car,’” recalled Bruce Bolger.

His family, along with neighbor Sharon Wirtenberg, stopped and watched as emergency responders worked to free their friend.

Remarkably Olson, while trapped under the truck, was able to make cell phone calls, one to her son, Bolger said.

“She is alert and talking to the firemen,” reported CHP Sgt. Ron Burch as emergency responders worked to lift the truck and free her. “She is calm; just wants to get out of there.”

“That’s the way she is,” said Amanda Bolger. “She is always cool and calm.”

After about an hour, the truck was lifted and paramedics continued to work on Olson.

“She moved her legs,” Burch said. “She helped firefighters as she climbed out of the car.”

“I am just amazed,” said Trish Bolger, of her friend’s strength and luck.

Olson was transported to Huntington Hospital with moderate injuries. The truck driver had minor injuries but refused medical attention at the scene.

The investigation is being conducted by the CHP.