Medic Dies After Fall From I-395 Overpass

Alexandria paramedic responded to traffic incidents

A paramedic who fell from an Interstate 395 overpass Wednesday night has died.

Alexandria paramedic Joshua Weissman went to I-395 near South Glebe Road in Shirlington after separate reports of a car fire in the high-occupancy vehicle lanes and a three-car crash in the northbound lanes. At the scene, he fell about 20 feet into the creek bed of Four Mile Run and was rushed to Washington Hospital Center with a severe head injury, Alexandria Fire Chief Adam Thiel said.

Authorities believe Weissman was trying to get to the burning car when he fell through the three-foot gap between I-395 and HOV lanes.

Arlington police, Alexandria police and state police assisted the fire department in rescuing Weissman, but the paramedic succumbed to his injuries Thursday.

Weissman, 33, was a 7-year veteran of the Alexandria Fire Department.

Fire officials said it was the first time an employee was seriously injured in 15 years, the Associated Press reported.

Listen to edited fire dispatch audio below:

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