Foundation-Funded Extrication Tools Help Save Critically Injured Driver

Gretna, FL

In the early morning hours of February 15, 2026, a devastating single-vehicle crash occurred outside a local church in Gretna, Florida. Hours later, at 6:56 a.m., Gretna Fire Rescue was dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, crews discovered a vehicle had struck the culvert beneath the church’s driveway, leaving the sole occupant critically injured and trapped inside.

EMS personnel immediately began providing lifesaving care while firefighters worked to access and free the victim.

What followed was a complex extrication that lasted approximately one hour and twenty minutes. Despite the severity of the crash and the prolonged entrapment, crews successfully removed the patient, who was then transported to a nearby hospital as a Level One Trauma.

Today, that individual is alive—a powerful testament to the impact of a coordinated emergency response and the right tools at the right time.

“The extrication tools obtained through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant program were critical to the success of this rescue. Since acquiring these lifesaving tools, they have been utilized in approximately 12 incidents. Gretna Fire Rescue is deeply grateful for the support provided by the Foundation.”

– Assistant Chief Joe Parramore, Gretna Fire Rescue

Granted Tools Used:
Extrication Equipment: Rescue tools used to quickly and efficiently remove trapped victims after motor vehicle accidents and structural collapses.