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Official press release from City of Alexandria:
The City of Alexandria announces that the Alexandria Fire Department paramedic that was critically injured on the evening of February 8 is Joshua Weissman, 33, of Bristow, VA. Weissman is a seven-year veteran of the Alexandria Fire Department, and was hired in April 2006. As of this morning he remains in critical condition at Washington Hospital Center.
At approximately 6:21 p.m. on February 8, 2012, the Alexandria Fire Department responded to reports of a car on fire on the northbound lanes of I-395 near South Glebe Road. An Alexandria ambulance, of which Weissman was part of the crew, stopped in the northbound lanes of I-395 alongside the HOV lane to reach the burning vehicle. During the course of leaving the ambulance, Weissman fell off the roadway and into Four Mile Run Creek, which is approximately 20 feet below the interstate. Weissman was rescued from the creek by firefighters from Alexandria City and Arlington County and transported to MedStar with life-threatening injuries. The cause of the accident is under investigation by Virginia State Police.
From Google Maps, gap between spans where Paramedic Weissman fell.
An Alexandria paramedic is in critical condition after he plunged from an overpass along I-395 in Shirlington while responding to a car fire near South Glebe Road on Wednesday night.
Alexandria Fire Department paramedic Joshua Weissman, 33, of Bristow, Va. was leaving an ambulance at the scene and fell from the interstate into Four Mile Run Creek, approximately 20 feet below the interstate. The creek is described as rocky.
Weissman, who is with the Seminary Road Station in Alexandria, was extricated from the creek by Alexandria City and Arlington County firefigthers and taken to Med Star with life threatening injuries. He is currently in critical condition at Washington Hospital Center.
Also on STATter911 …
- UPDATED – Alexandria, Virginia officals confirm Paramedic Joshua Weissman is critical after fall from I-395 bridge. CPR was started after removal from Four Mile Run creek. – February 8, 2012
- Alexandria (VA) Fire Department Paramedic Joshua Weissman dies after fall off of I-395 bridge. Watch raw video of press conference. – February 9, 2012
- Arrangements for Alexandria Fire Department Paramedic Joshua Weissman – February 11, 2012
- Live coverage: Funeral for Alexandria, Virginia Paramedic Joshua Weissman. Scheduled for 1:00 PM Eastern time. – February 16, 2012
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Quite a bit of confusion, which can be expected especially when it's one of us that's seriously injured. Surprised that both agencies didn't merge or patch (not sure how they operate there in Northern VA) into the same channel for unified command. However – I give the Arlington Chief and members much credit. At no time did they get frustrated or let their stress affect them on the radio. Very professional.
Prayers going out to Paramedic Weissman, keep fighting and get better brother.
Our prayers go out to Medic Weissman. Have a speedy recovery. DCFD
My prayers Paramedic Weissman, his family and the AFD.
CLT FF – I think you said it very well! <reference your comments>
Agree TJ. That was a mess! Regardless terrible tragedy!
I,am truly sorry
Just awful, my prayers to the brother and his family. Godspeed Joshua
SIGNAL 5-5-5-5 FOR Joshua Weissman, WHO PASSED THIS EVENING.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR HIS FAMILY AND HIS DEPARTMENT.
SHIRLINGTON, Va. — An Alexandria paramedic who fell from a cement barrier along Interstate 395 on Wednesday night has died, according to the Alexandria Fire Department.
Joshua Weissman who suffered a severe head injury in the fall, died at 4:25 p.m. Thursday.
REST IN PEACE.
First off, RIP Brother Weissman. This is certainly a tragic event.
As for the radio traffic. I run in NoVA and there is a reason that the entire DC Metro area has switched to an interoperable radio system. We have spent millions of dollars to have the capability of seamless inter-operability. Every radio on every piece of apparatus on that scene had the capability to operate on the same channel. I can't believe that the command officers from the two jurisdictions couldn't get it together enough to get on the same operating channel. It sounds like Alexandria had it right when they asked Arlington communications to have all the Arlington units switch over to the Alexandria channel, but the Arlington command officers didn't do it. I don't think the radio confusion caused any delays to patient care that could have changed the overall outcome, but there are definitely some officers in need of some remedial NIMS command structure training. I'd love to hear a recording of the Alexandria radio traffic to see how things were going from their side.
So sad to hear of this. Joshua will be greatly missed by his extended family in the Alexandria ED. We will miss your professionalism and passion for the work that you did. Prayers to his family and brothers and sister at Alexandria FD.
Rest in peace Josh.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this , that he would lay his life down for his friends.
If you have ever worn the badge you know the time may come but you do it anyway. Because thats who you are and what you have been placed here to do. Josh is just another great example of a brother doing it with his whole heart . God Bless You Josh and to his wife my prayers go out to you. He went doing what he loved to do.
This is really sad rest in peace joshua weissman