The Rise of the Medical Emergency, Pt. 39
A major freeway shutdown, a spinal cord stroke, an heroic sergeant, an unlucky driver, an unlucky boater, and an unlucky hiker. Today in TROME
JUN 29 REPORTS
1) I-5 reopens in Marysville after 'major' head-on crash
‘All lanes of northbound Interstate 5 in Marysville reopened Thursday morning after being closed for hours following a “major” two-vehicle injury crash, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said.’
The I-5 is the major N-S freeway in Washington state. It has a small-road feel along some stretches in the state, but you can see this is still about a 40-foot-wide earthen meridian the vehicle had to cross — like the two that showed up in TROME Pt. 36. Of course, in both of those instances I was alone with my speculation about the medical emergencies causing those crashes. This time the Washington State troopers agree:
‘The Washington State Patrol said a 48-year-old man had a medical emergency while driving a 2022 Honda Civic southbound on I-5 and hit the barrier. The vehicle then crossed into the northbound lanes and hit a 2014 Ram Promaster Cargo Van head-on.
The man driving the Civic and the 53-year-old man driving the van were taken to Providence Regional Medical Center for their injuries. The extent of those injuries is currently unknown.’
Absolutely brutal. The I-5. Think how fast something like that would come into view if you were driving the car that got hit. Unbelievable.
2) Jesse Malin Suffered a Rare Spinal Stroke. He’s Determined to Walk and Dance Again
Holy cow. Ever heard of a spinal cord stroke before?
‘Malin suffered an exceedingly rare spinal-cord infarction — a stroke in his back — while at dinner in the East Village. Gathered with friends to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Howie Pyro, Malin’s former D Generation bandmate and best friend, he felt a burning pain in his lumbar region that slowly migrated down his hips, through his thighs, and into his heels. He collapsed onto the floor of the restaurant, unable to walk.’
Bruh. Also — his friend who?
2a) Howie Pyro, D Generation Co-Founder and Eclectic DJ, Dead at 61
‘HOWIE PYRO, A founding member of New York City punk band D Generation, pioneering party DJ, and avid collector of music and movie ephemera, died Wednesday. He was 61. Pyro had undergone a liver transplant last year and was recovering in a Los Angeles hospital. Jesse Malin, Pyro’s friend and bandmate in D Generation, confirmed his death from Covid-related pneumonia following a long battle with liver disease.’
Remdesevir plus untreated pneumonia on an already-weakened liver. Toast in a toaster. With any luck they spared him the ventilator.
Regarding Malin’s vaccine status, I don’t actually know, but, well:
3) Army Sergeant honored for saving man from burning car
‘An Army sergeant is being called a hero after he saved a man from a burning car.’
’Sergeant Speck was on his way home from work in Riverside County on May 15, when he saw smoke coming from a car on the side of the road.’
’Without hesitating, he rushed to help.
“I just turned around and I ran up to see what was going on, evaluate what was going on and the man was unconscious. I saw the smoke start to become flames from under the hood, so I helped remove him from the vehicle and just made sure he was breathing, had a pulse and I turned him on his side because he had foam coming out of his mouth,” said Sergeant Speck.
The victim had a medical emergency, which caused him to crash.’
‘The man went on to make a full recovery.’
4) Driver struck signs, curbs while suffering medical emergency
‘A Grandville man is in critical condition after suffering a medical emergency while driving Thursday morning, causing him to crash into several signs and curbs, and then finally veering off the road and striking a tree.’
‘The 49 year-old was transported to Grand Rapids hospital in critical condition,’ and if you want to know more then you’ll have to pony up.
Those boys down at the Grand Haven Tribune drive a hard bargain.
5) Cat Ferry helps with fishing vessel in distress
‘Residents in Yarmouth may have been concerned this morning to see the Cat ferry at a standstill and sounding its horn, but representatives from Bay Ferries say the Cat was helping a nearby fishing vessel in distress.’
‘Bay Ferries believe that someone on board experienced a medical emergency and had to be taken a shore by the Coast Guard but we have been unable to independently confirm that at this time.’
6) Hiker suffering cardiac emergency medically evacuated out of Gorge
‘A hiker suffering a medical emergency in a remote area of the Columbia River Gorge was medically evacuated via helicopter Sunday, June 25.’
‘The area is remote, only accessible on foot or by boat, so deputies waded through the water and hiked more than a mile before they were able to reach the person.
They administered an automated external defibrillator and continued with chest compressions. Because of the difficulty in getting to the location, and worries about the length of time the man had been suffering, a helicopter was landed on the sand island to take him to a nearby hospital. The man remains in critical condition.’
Adieu.
I lead a pretty boring life until I read the Chad Rabbit and my emotions hit the ceiling.