Two adults and two children survived a frightening crash in Franklin, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 1, after a pickup truck flew off an I-840 overpass near the 16-mile mark, according to a Monday, Feb. 2 news release from Williamson County Fire and Rescue (WCFR).
Officials said the truck crossed the interstate and came to rest on the opposite side, landing upright in a gulch between two bridges with its front end up against the embankment. A spokesperson for the agency said the vehicle was damaged after striking a concrete barrier.
“Despite the severity of the crash and the complexity of the rescue, there were no major injuries,” WCFR said.
Firefighters removed three of the four occupants after forcing open the truck’s doors. Crews then used ropes and a Stokes basket to reach and rescue the remaining passenger due to the steep terrain.
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Williamson Health EMS transported all four occupants to the hospital for evaluation, officials said.
WCFR also confirmed everyone in the vehicle was properly restrained: the adults were wearing seatbelts and both children were secured in car seats. “Seatbelts and car seats save lives. Every ride. Every time,” the agency wrote.
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The identities of those involved were not released.
Ten firefighters responded to the scene, with support from the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency, Williamson Health EMS, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of the 23,959 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2023 were not buckled in, citing known seat belt use. The agency has also said seat belt use saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017.
