Person falls under bridge after crash on I-95 South in Petersburg

Oct 23, 2025 - 01:25

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Person falls under bridge after crash on I-95 South in Petersburg

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- A person fell into an embankment under a bridge following a crash on Interstate 95 South in Petersburg early Tuesday morning.

Just after 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, crews with Petersburg Fire Rescue & Emergency Services were called to the scene of a crash on I-95 southbound, just before the Wagner Road exit.

When they arrived, first responders learned that a driver had hit the guardrail on the bridge, causing significant damage to their vehicle.

They also learned that someone from the car had fallen about 15 feet down an embankment beneath the bridge and landed near the railroad tracks below. The person was awake and breathing, but they were bleeding from their head and their face.

Oct. 21 technical rescue just off of I-95 South in Petersburg. (Photos: Petersburg Fire Rescue & Emergency Services)

Members of the city's Heavy Tactical Rescue Team were able to rescue the person using technical rescue tools like a rope rigging system and a stokes basket.

According to fire officials, the person "left the scene alert, talking and in good hands" and was taken to an area hospital.

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"A key part of this rescue was clear communication," fire officials said. "Truck 1 Firefighter Vaquiz, fluent in Spanish, was able to communicate directly with the patient, ensuring accurate assessment and treatment."

Petersburg Fire Rescue & Emergency Services praised the training of its Heavy Tactical Rescue Team. It also thanked both the Petersburg Bureau of Police and Virginia State Police for assisting its crews in their response to this incident.