About 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, an SUV and a sedan, traveling in opposite directions, collided near the intersection of Sherman Way and Woodman Avenue. The force of the crash trapped both drivers inside their vehicles. LAFD rescued the men using "Jaws of Life" equipment to cut through the twisted metal crumpled around them. The men suffered unknown injuries from the collision.
The Los Angeles Fire Department dispatched its Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit, along with "heavy rescue" equipment to the crash scene. 2 paramedic "Advanced Life Services" rescue ambulances were also requested.
Firefighters were able to extricate the first driver in the Chevy Suburban right away, and transported the unidentified man by ambulance to an area hospital.
Firefighters had a more difficult time extricating the second man, who was driving a white Lexus sedan, due to the extensive damage sustained in the collision of the two vehicles. it took the rescue crew almost 30 minutes to pry apart the twisted metal from around the man in order to pull him from the wreckage.
The driver in the Lexus appeared to be conscious and coherent during the rescue, although there were moments when he showed facial expressions of pain. The roof of his mangled car had to be cut off in order to pull his body up and onto a backboard so the firefighters could lift him from the wreckage.
LAPD's Valley Traffic Division closed off Sherman Way to traffic between Woodman Avenue and Ranchito Avenue during the rescue operation.
The cars were both severely damaged at the front ends, and both cars were facing sideways in a northern direction after they collided, both disabled in the wesbound traffic lanes of Sherman Way.
Scores of spectators lined up curbside to watch the rescue effort, and many snapped photos and shot video with their cellphones. The crowd cheered the LAFD when the second driver was finally extricated and placed onto an awaiting gurney.
