2004 03/21 MS Terri Eiland

Incident Name:
Date: 3/21/2004
Personnel: Terri Eiland
Age: 40
Agency/Organization:
Position: firefighter

Summary: Lieutenant Eiland was the driver of a medium-sized brush/rescue truck (F350) responding to the report of a brush fire. An engine company was also responding to the incident but was delayed by a train. The right front tire of the brush/rescue vehicle left the paved surface of the road, Lieutenant Eiland overcorrected to the left, and the vehicle entered into a clockwise spin. The brush/rescue truck entered a ditch and flipped end-over-end and came to rest on its roof. Another firefighter passenger was able to get out of the vehicle. Other firefighters arrived on the scene but were not able to remove Lieutenant Eiland from the vehicle. The department’s extrication tools were not accessible due to the level of damage that the brush/rescue vehicle had incurred. Mutual aid was requested for extrication. Lieutenant Eiland was in and out of consciousness during the rescue effort. She was removed from the vehicle approximately 30 minutes after the crash and transported by ambulance to a local hospital. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause of death was listed as cardiac and pulmonary results of compression asphyxia. Lieutenant Eiland and the firefighter passenger were wearing seatbelts, and the rescue airbags operated. Excessive speed was cited in the law enforcement crash investigation.

Maps

Pascagoula, MS

Forts Lake/Franklin Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Moss Point, MS
10701 Forts Lake Rd Moss Point, MS

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