LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Fire Department (LFD) faced one of its most intense and perilous challenges in 2024 when a semi-truck became dangerously suspended over the Second Street Bridge. On March 1, 2024, a reckless driver caused a multi-vehicle crash, leaving a Sysco truck teetering on the edge of the bridge with 26-year-old Sydney Thomas trapped inside.
The rescue required quick thinking, expert skill, and immense bravery. As Thomas was left hanging inside the cab of the semi, the danger of her falling into the river below was imminent. Firefighter Bryce Carden, part of the first-responder team, recalled the urgency of the situation: “We’re like ‘oh, this is the real deal,’” Carden said. “This is go time.”
To execute the rescue, Carden was lowered by rope from the bridge deck to the semi’s cab. Once inside, he used a pocketknife to cut Thomas free from her seatbelt, then carefully lifted her to safety. “I knew how to lock-in,” Carden explained. “I knew my team had me on the topside.”
Carden’s calmness and expertise in the face of extreme danger did not go unnoticed. After the successful rescue, he received four awards at the Louisville Fire Department’s annual banquet, including the prestigious titles of Firefighter of the Year and the Medal of Valor. Despite the accolades, Carden remained humble, saying, “We go out and put our lives on the line for the people of Louisville, and we’d do it any day of the week.”
However, fellow responders and colleagues saw him differently. “To know that she wasn’t going to fall because he’s holding on to her like a bear hug, that was heroic,” said Captain Chad Rodgers. “The thing is, we would all do that, but he actually did it. Bryce is the hero. He looked like Spider-Man out there.”
The dramatic rescue has had lasting effects on the LFD’s training practices. In response to the incident, the department has revamped its training for recruits, especially regarding rope skills and structural collapse scenarios. “We needed all the people that were there, even if they weren’t rescue techs, to at least have a rough idea of what to do,” Captain Rodgers added.
Although Thomas’s current whereabouts could not be confirmed at the time of reporting, the firefighters who helped save her life have a message for her. “I’m happy for her,” said Rodgers. “I’d tell her to keep driving because if we’re showing up, it’s going to be just fine.”
As of June 2024, Thomas’s recovery has been challenging. Her mother, Torrie Carver, revealed that Thomas, a military veteran and young mother, was still in the process of healing from the traumatic experience.
The daring rescue on the Second Street Bridge serves as a testament to the skill, bravery, and selflessness of the Louisville Fire Department. In the face of near-impossible odds, the team responded with unwavering resolve to save a life and prevent what could have been a tragic outcome.
