Now, let's head to Oxon Hill, Maryland,
just south of our nation's capital,
where a fiery crash on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge
left three construction workers hanging on for dear life.
This incident was captured on a commuter's cell phone,
a traffic cam, a rescue helmet cam, and a helicopter camera,
giving us a unique 360 degree look at this incredible rescue.
A tractor trailer just lost control,
striking several construction vehicles
and setting them ablaze.
So it-- oh, it looks like they hit the truck that-- that--
the crane-- - That crane.
--that they were working on.
MATT ISEMAN: Three maintenance men,
who'd been working on the bridge's span inside the bucket
of their boom truck, were left dangling
dangerously over the side of this bridge,
unable to get to safety.
[beeping]
Holy cow.
MATT ISEMAN: These firefighters need
to hurry to put out the fire.
With every passing second, it spreads further along the arm
of the boom bucket.
It's under the bridge.
See that basket? Right there.
- There's a worker. - Just a moment.
Let me just see.
That's probably a fire.
MATT ISEMAN: If the arm breaks, the bucket
will fall over 30 feet into the water with three
men still trapped inside.
[muffled yelling]
MATT ISEMAN: These rescuers have to work together
to get the workers to safety.
[helicopter whirring]
This is no easy feat.
A firefighter on top of the bridge
must signal to others below where
to position the rescue line, so they can guide the workers
onto a rescue boat below.
[beeping]
(ON RADIO) We have an aerial 11 unit coming your way.
MATT ISEMAN: The firefighters drop ropes
over the side of the bridge to the trapped workers below,
who are already wearing harnesses.
They are then ever so delicately lowered in the harnesses
to the boats waiting in the water below.
The guy is safe.
Good!
[beeping]
Dude looks like he's happy to be in the boat.
[suspenseful music]
Careful.
[radio chatter]
MATT ISEMAN: Two workers are saved,
and the rescuers now have just one last man to save.
[radio chatter]
(ON RADIO) --402.
[distant chatter]
MATT ISEMAN: The firefighters must work precisely, manually
hoisting and maneuvering the rescue
lines so they can successfully lower the workers to boats
waiting in the river below.
They are so lucky.
Look at that thing, man.
MATT ISEMAN: Lucky is an understatement.
The fiery accident backed up traffic for more than 12 hours.
But the three men made it out safely,
thanks to the remarkable work of these firefighters.
Joining me now, Lieutenant Eddie Payne with the Fairfax County
Fire and Rescue Department, firefighters and EMTs,
Robert Elam and Joshua Morrison, as well
as master tech Robert Pickel.
Gentlemen, welcome.
Lieutenant Payne, you were actually off duty when
you came across this chaos.
What was going on?
Yeah, I was off duty.
But at the time, even though I had my fire gear, I mean,
there was really only so much I could do.
So as I walked the bridge, you know,
I was able to confirm that there were at least
four vehicles involved.
I was able to get a glimpse of three workers
directly down below the bridge.
They were trapped.
MATT ISEMAN: Wow.
Just an unimaginable situation to be in.
How did you help these folks?
Nobody was there but us on that side.
They already had harnesses on because they were
tied off in the bucket truck.
Threw a rope to them, got a rope to them.
MATT ISEMAN: This all took an incredible amount of teamwork.
How do you guys work in tandem in an emergency like this?
I think it was good thinking on all of us.
The decision was made that we were going to lower them.
And then one by one, two guys here to the left and right
of me--
these guys were key to hold me down.
So overall, how long did it take to get
those guys down to safety?
All three of the individuals out of the bucket
and into the boats below, within 12 minutes.
So that was a fantastic job on their part.
It's not something that those guys train for--
down there in the bucket, the workers.
And they listened to everything that Lieutenant Fernandez said,
so that was very good of them.
Well, I'm sure those men are beyond
grateful for all your incredible work in saving their lives.
Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your story.