Photo source: LBFD

(February 10, 2003) -- A car driven by a pregnant woman slammed into a Blue Line train at 7th St. and Pacific Ave. on Sunday night Feb. 9. LBFD public information officer Wayne Chaney told LBReport.com that LB Fire got the call at roughly 8:30 p.m. involving a Chevy Beretta traveling west on 7th St. Chaney said it took LB firefighters roughly 45 minutes to rescue the driver, who was reportedly about 8 wks. pregnant. LBFD units arrived within three minutes, including LB Fire's Technical Rescue Team which carries specialized equipment.

The driver was pinned by the dashboard...and two crews worked to reach her (one on the roof, one on the door) using the "Jaws of Life" (spreads and separates metal), special cutters (slicing through pillars on the car) and a "Ram" (a hydraulically operated cylinder) to lift the dashboard off the driver's leg. She was taken to a local hospital, reportedly in stable condition.

The Blue Line was inoperable for several hours due to a ruptured brake line, which locked all the brakes on the train. A Blue Line crew was dispatched to individually release the train brakes and repair the damage.

Two passengers on the Blue Line train were transported to local hospital with minor injuries.