Accident Involving a School Bus
 
By Deputy Fire Chief Randy Scott
June 4, 2015
 

On June 4th at 14:36 hrs. The Westwood Fire Company was alerted for a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Rt 30 and Washington Lane in Valley Twp. involving a school bus

Units responded immediately and Deputy Chief Scott was advised by CCDES that reports are indicating multiple injuries involving school students and that a Tractor Trailer was also involved. Chief Scott requested 4 BLS ambulance along with one ALS unit. Chief Scott also requested a Fire Police Task Force to close down all lanes of Business Rt 30.

Chief Scott arrived and assumed “ Rt 30 Command” and reported a tractor trailer T-bone into a school bus with most students along the road side in grass area. Rescue 44 arrived with a crew of 4. Battalion Chief John Sly assumed an operational role of patient tracking and coordinated which transport units patients would be sent in and how many could go in each unit. EMT Joe Kennedy assumed Triage Officer and was quickly assessing the injured students. Deputy Fire Chief Evan Taylor, Valley Forge Fire Company was on-board of Rescue 44 and assumed a Logistic Role of tracking those students that were not injured and worked to keep them aside from those needing medical treatment. During the early response stages Chief Scott was in contact with Nursing Administrators at Brandywine Hospital to prepare for an influx of BLS patients and make sure the Hospital was ready to receive them. Further evaluation of the injured prompted the Operational Command to request 3 additional ambulances. Rt 30 Command also requested Station 31 for an Engine to assist with debris and also any other task.

The driver of the tractor trailer was treated by crews of Amb 144 and Brandywine Hospital Medic 93 and was transported to Paoli Hospital Trauma Center.

Fire Police Lieutenant Jim Pilotti assumed “Traffic Command” and this task was placed on the West Fire Police Channel and both East and West bound lanes were closed from Airport Road to Wilmington Road in Sadsbury Twp.

In total triage was performed and 10 children were transported to Brandywine Hospital in less than 31 minutes. Representatives from Coatesville Area School, including Dr. Cathy Taschner, Principle Michelle Snyder of South Brandywine and several other school administrators along with Representatives from Krapfs' Bus were on scene very quick and assisted in all aspects of the incidents.

 
Units: Rescue 44, Tac 44, Ambulance 44-1, Ambulance 144
 
Mutual Aid: Ambulance 41-2, Ambulance 41-3, Ambulance 8, Ambulance 37-2, Ambulance and Medic 46, Utility 35, Lancaster County Squad 52-1