A COLOGNE, GERMANY, SPECIALIZED TRUCK WENT off the road and crashed into a tree Wednesday afternoon.  The vehicle is an equipment van that carries tools and rigging for animal rescue operations.

It is not yet known why the truck left the roadway, nor has it been reported if it was responding on a call.  The crash severely crumpled the front end and trapped the two firefighters.  The 52-yr.-old driver and the 47-yr.-old passenger both had to be extricated using hydraulic tools.  The operation took about an hour to free them successfully.

The passenger was critically injured, but the driver had only minor injuries.

Rodenkirchen.de has the STORY.
The Cologne Fire Department (Feuerwehr-Koln) has an extensive, 140-image photo gallery of the entire extrication operation HERE.