Camper crashes off T.J. Meenach Bridge

Two people were rescued today after their pickup truck and camper went over an embankment at T.J. Meenach Bridge in northwest Spokane.
A man was driving the truck apparently northbound approaching the bridge when he went over the embankment.
A woman in her 50s was in a camper attached to the truck and was ejected as it rolled down the hillside. She suffered a broken leg and a possible head, chest and lung injuries, said Bill Donahoe, north side battalion chief for the Spokane Fire Department.
“She really took a ride down that hill in the camper,” Donahoe said …

Picture story: TJ Meenach Bridge rescue

Two people were rescued today after their pickup truck and camper went over an embankment at T.J. Meenach Bridge in northwest Spokane.

A man was driving the truck apparently northbound approaching the bridge when he went over the embankment.

A woman in her 50s was in a camper attached to the truck and was ejected as it rolled down the hillside. She suffered a broken leg and a possible head, chest and lung injuries, said Bill Donahoe, north side battalion chief for the Spokane Fire Department.

“She really took a ride down that hill in the camper,” Donahoe said. “She was conscious but not aware of her surroundings or what was going on.”

The driver was outside the truck when crews arrived and suffered minor lacerations. A dog also was unharmed but taken to SpokAnimal for a check up.

The camper separated from the truck and was located further down the embankment on the Centennial Trail near the Spokane River. Police are investigating how the crash occurred and are working to remove to the truck and camper. Donahoe said the camper is destroyed.

“It looked to me like it wouldn’t stay together if they tried to pull it out of there,” Donahoe said.

Donahoe said crews performed a “low-angle technical rescue” using ropes to pull the woman up the hillside.

Fire crews cleared the scene about 4:21 p.m.

Authorities closed the bridge to give rescue crews more room to operate.