Read investigative report into death of Alexandria, VA Paramedic Joshua A. Weissman
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Alexandria (VA) Fire Department Medic II Joshua A. Weissman fell to his death off of an interstate highway bridge while on a response on February 8, 2012.
Executive Summary
This Line of Duty Death (LODD) Investigative Report is dedicated to Medic II Joshua A. Weissman, his wife Rebecca, his parents Edward and Frances Weissman, his brother Gabriel, and all his loving extended family and friends. Joshua will never be forgotten. To honor his supreme sacrifice, the Alexandria Fire Department commits to share this investigative report so that many may learn from it, with the sincere hope that no other family or department will suffer a similar loss.
This investigative report was developed using a multi-dimensional team approach. The objectives of the Health and Safety Unit and the LODD Investigative Team were to examine the events that occurred and to identify the factors involved in the death of Medic Weissman. The LODD Investigative Team has reviewed all available information at the time of publication of this report and has documented the factual findings and recommendations in an effort to prevent such a tragedy from occurring in the future. This document is a comprehensive report, which focuses on events leading up to this single tragic incident. Two additional reports with be forthcoming. One report is the technical after-action report analyzing the operational response and rescue immediately following the injury; the other report will analyze the recovery phase following the conclusion of the rescue.
The Virginia State Police (VSP) and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (VADOLI) have conducted independent investigations of this incident. The Alexandria Fire Department LODD Investigation Team’s report took a dissecting approach from every aspect, which reaches beyond the scope of the VADOLI report. To prevent another tragic event, a critical selfassessment of the organization was necessary. This investigative report represents innumerable hours of effort in order to analyze operations and recommend necessary improvements. On the evening of February 8, 2012, 33-year-old Medic Weissman was gravely injured from a fall from the overpass on I-395, as it crosses Four Mile Run. At the location of the incident, the highway crosses the creek via elevated spans; some of the spans are separated from one another; some are not. At the location where Joshua Weissman fell, the northbound span is separated from the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.
Medic Weissman was working as a member of Medic 206. Joshua was riding in the position of the aide and would have been considered in-charge. Medic 206 was responding to a report of a vehicle fire on nouthbound I-395 between Seminary Road and Duke Street. It was also reported that a person may possibly be inside the burning vehicle. Medic 206 was responding with other units from the Alexandria Fire Department. The units responding to this reported vehicle fire announced not finding that vehicle fire at the dispatched location.
A report was then made by the Alexandria Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) that the Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD) was handling an incident in the HOV lanes, near Shirlington Circle/Glebe Road. After that report, Medic 206 redirected their response by proceeding northbound toward Shirlington Circle.
Upon arriving at the scene, Medic Weissman exited Medic 206, approached the bridge railing, and traversed over, falling approximately 30 feet to the creek bed below. Fire, EMS, and law enforcement personnel located Medic Weissman, initiated patient care, and rescued him from the creek area. Medic Weissman was transported by ambulance to MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, where he passed away from his injuries the following day, February 9, 2012.
