PGPD Marine Unit Rescues Trapped Workers After Fiery Crash

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Several construction workers were underneath the Woodrow Wilson Bridge when a truck smashed into their crane on Wednesday, and all of them are safe thanks to the quick actions of the Prince George's County Police Department's Special Operations Division's Marine Unit.

The Marine Unit helped rescue the construction workers as other personnel worked on the bridge to bring the blaze under control, and they had to work quickly with the workers dangling precariously and diesel fuel dripping from above.

The crash happened at around 11 a.m. The Marine Unit was patrolling the waters of the Potomac River when they heard a boom and saw an explosion on the bridge, according to a report from the Prince George's County Police Department.

"The officers raced into help while notifying area public safety agencies of the unfolding emergency," the report states. "As the crew arrived at the bridge, they positioned their boat directly underneath three workers who were dangling off the bridge in a construction bucket and were trapped."

The conditions were dangerous due to the thick smoke and fire at the accident scene just above them.

"Diesel fuel was spilling down, but our marine boat had to stay locked in position in case any of the workers fell," the report states. "Fairfax Fire Department personnel on the bridge helped to lower each of the construction workers down to our officers on the boat below and our crew got the men to safety one-by-one."

Added PGPD Sergeant Charles Perry in the statement: “These officers did an outstanding job! They saw danger and rushed right to it. At one point the diesel fuel was on fire as it was falling down on the officers. We have taken the marine unit boat out of service because it is now covered in fuel. We couldn’t be more proud of their quick actions this morning.”

Images via PGPD