EDMONDS, WA -
A 52-year-old Lynnwood woman is fighting for her life tonight after her car plunged 200 feet down a steep hill. Edmonds Police said the victim drove off the cliff around 10:30 am at an overlook in the 9300 block of Olympic View Drive.
Edmonds Firefighter Paramedic Brian Schleicher was one of the first people to reach the woman.
"She was pretty beat up, I mean the gal went over an embankment 200 feet in a car and then got popped out of the car and got crushed by the car," said Schleicher.
Schleicher says he had to put on his tactical gear and tied up to his engine and headed over the cliff to reach the woman.
"Grabbed some aid gear, I repelled down about 200 feet down the embankment," said Schleicher.
At the same time, Edmonds Police Officer Justin Lee raced to the woman through another entry point about a half-mile away from the crash scene.
"We were running through thick bushes and what not trying to get to the car, the car was about 45 feet above the embankment from the railroad," said Lee.
Schleicher says after the Tactical Rescue Team got the woman down from the steep slope, Edmonds Police and Fire used Marine Unit 16 to race on water to Edmonds Marina to a helicopter.
"We stabilized her and air-lifted her down to Harborview," said Schleicher.
The woman suffered critical head, neck, and back injuries. Sergeant Don Anderson with the Edmonds Police Department says investigators are still trying to figure out what caused her to hit the gas and drive over the cliff.
"We learned the vehicle had not lost control on the roadway the vehicle was actually parked there," said Anderson.
According to Anderson getting down the steep embankment to rescue the victim wasn't the only major challenge for Police and Fire; they also had to come up with a plan to remove her car that was dangerously close to the train tracks below.
"My understanding was they were going to lift the vehicle with the crane onto a car and wheel it down to the marina," said Anderson.
Burlington Northern closed the train tracks for several hours today. So, while Police try to piece together the fateful moments for the driver, Schleicher and Lee say they were just thankful they were called upon to save the driver's life.
So, I hope she has a good outcome, I hope she lives," said Schleicher.
"Very fortunate we were able to get there as soon as we can," said Lee.
The victim is in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center. Her name has not been released.
Edmonds Firefighter Paramedic Brian Schleicher was one of the first people to reach the woman.
"She was pretty beat up, I mean the gal went over an embankment 200 feet in a car and then got popped out of the car and got crushed by the car," said Schleicher.
Schleicher says he had to put on his tactical gear and tied up to his engine and headed over the cliff to reach the woman.
"Grabbed some aid gear, I repelled down about 200 feet down the embankment," said Schleicher.
At the same time, Edmonds Police Officer Justin Lee raced to the woman through another entry point about a half-mile away from the crash scene.
"We were running through thick bushes and what not trying to get to the car, the car was about 45 feet above the embankment from the railroad," said Lee.
Schleicher says after the Tactical Rescue Team got the woman down from the steep slope, Edmonds Police and Fire used Marine Unit 16 to race on water to Edmonds Marina to a helicopter.
"We stabilized her and air-lifted her down to Harborview," said Schleicher.
The woman suffered critical head, neck, and back injuries. Sergeant Don Anderson with the Edmonds Police Department says investigators are still trying to figure out what caused her to hit the gas and drive over the cliff.
"We learned the vehicle had not lost control on the roadway the vehicle was actually parked there," said Anderson.
According to Anderson getting down the steep embankment to rescue the victim wasn't the only major challenge for Police and Fire; they also had to come up with a plan to remove her car that was dangerously close to the train tracks below.
"My understanding was they were going to lift the vehicle with the crane onto a car and wheel it down to the marina," said Anderson.
Burlington Northern closed the train tracks for several hours today. So, while Police try to piece together the fateful moments for the driver, Schleicher and Lee say they were just thankful they were called upon to save the driver's life.
So, I hope she has a good outcome, I hope she lives," said Schleicher.
"Very fortunate we were able to get there as soon as we can," said Lee.
The victim is in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center. Her name has not been released.
