Rescuers Use Jaws of Life to Cut Fairfax City Woman From 495 Wreckage

Four Washington area residents, including a Fairfax City resident, were involved in a harrowing crash Monday afternoon on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway (I-495)  just south of the American Legion Bridge. The wreck closed down the Beltway and backed up traffic in both Maryland and Virginia for miles.

A Fairfax City woman was trapped in her car after it was pushed under a large box truck, according to Virginia State Police. Five drivers were involved in the chain reaction accident at about 1:30 p.m. in the southbound lanes of the the Beltway between the American Legion Bridge and the George Washington Parkway.

The accident unfolded this way:

Hoai Phan, of Sterling, had just crossed the American Legion Bridge going south on I-495 when her Nissan Altima broke down in the right center lane, according to Virginia State Trooper Brian Davis.  James Oliver, of Capitol Heights, Md., stopped his Freightliner box truck behind her.

In quick succession, Helena Cohen, of Fairfax City, driving a Honda Accord, stopped behind the Freightliner and Megan Pezzi, of McLean, stopped her Pontiac Grand Am behind Cohen.

Phan, Oliver, Cohen and Pezzi were then all stopped in the right-hand center lane – all were in their vehicles with their seat belts fastened.

Then state police, who patrol the Beltway and all Virginia interstates, received a call for a disabled vehicle.

Moments later, a Freightliner tractor trailer crossing the American Legion Bridge struck the rear of the Grand Am. The force of the impact sent the Grand Am into the Accord. The Accord, with Cohen inside, was pushed under Oliver's box truck, Davis said.

"It was a pretty horrific crash," Davis said. "We are very fortunate that no one died. Everyone was wearing their seat belt, which was a good thing."

Cohen was wedged under the truck. Both Fairfax County and Montgomery County fire and rescue crews were on the scene, said a spokesman for the Fairfax County Fire Department.

"EMS had to cut her out of the car," Davis said. The Jaws of Life was used to pull away pieces of the car so that Cohen could be extracted. "This is a delicate and intricate operation," he said.

Officials closed the Beltway for about 75 minutes. They thought they would need to land a helicopter to evacuate Cohen, Davis said.

Instead she was taken by ambulance to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where she remains. The injuries are not life-threatening, he said.

The Grand Am and the Honda Accord were unrecognizable after the accident, the trooper  said.

Pezzi, who was in the Grand Am, escaped through the passenger side of her car. She was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital with injuries, Davis said. Phan was not injured although her car was badly damaged, Davis said. Oliver, the box truck driver was not injured.

Chiemezie Onyheachu, of Indiana, Pa., the driver of the tractor trailer, was charged with reckless driving, Davis said.

"Wearing the a seat belt probably saved two lives," the trooper said.  "That was a life-saving decision that they made that day.”

With Memorial Day Weekend approaching, Davis offered these tips to drivers:

• Please wear  your seatbelt.
• Don't drink and drive.
• If you're involved in a crash, try to safely move to a shoulder if possible. If not, remain in your vehicle until help arrives.
• Be patient and plan accordingly.