Virginia Firefighters Perform Three Extrications at Once

The scene resembled a demolation derby. Spectators, police officers and emergency crews swarmed the scene of the four vehicle crash.

Tones sounded at at 6:53 pm on Sept. 3 for a head-on vehicle crash at the 8100 block of Hopkins Road in Chesterfield County.

Responding were Engine 17 and Medic 17. The call was quickly upgraded and Truck 3 and Battalion 1 were dispatched.

Arrival on scene and initial assessment revealed four vehicles totalled, three patients trapped with each being in a separate vehicle, with one patient red.

Command requested Virginia State Police EMS Med-Flight 1 for the transport of the red patient.

Engine 11 was dispatched to establish the LZ. Engine 3, Medic 3 and Medic 11 were added for the multiple patients. Battalion 2 responded to assist with command.

Firefighters and Medics worked in teams, each team handling an extrication.

One vehicle with the red patient had a broken windshield and the car was twisted around the patient with the doors jammed. The top of the vehicle had sharp pieces of metal protruding. Cribbing was placed to stabilize the vehicle and one firefighter climbed through the shattered windshield to cover the patient with a protective covering while the hydraulic tools were being used.

The "Jaws of Life" in skilled hands made quick work of the bashed in door.

The patient was extricated, packaged then escorted by paramedics and Chesterfield paramedics and ALS providers to the waiting helicopter.

The three trapped patients were all safely extricated. The two additional patients were transported by ground ambulance.

Police said a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica traveling south on Hopkins Road sideswiped a 1991 Isuzu Rodeo traveling north, which caused the Isuzu to collide with a 2002 Hyundai Elantra traveling south. A 1996 Mercury Sable traveling south on Hopkins Road veered off the roadway to avoid the crash and struck several trees.

The driver of the Hyundai was transported to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. The other drivers involved suffered minor injuries. The accident continues to be under investigation.