Westwood Fire Company

Westwood personnel arrive and begin to quickly assess the victim trapped inside this vehicle

Firefighter/EMT Scott begins to stabilize the vehicle by securing it to the tree

Firefighter/EMT Burkley gets inside the vehicle to help stabilize the patient

The pickup truck struck several trees

Personnel carry rescue tools and equipment over to the vehicle

Chief McWilliams assisting with deploying rescue tools

The truck was secured to a tree utilizing a Come-A-Long hand winch and chain

A High Lift Jack was placed under the body of the pickup truck bed to assist with stabilizing the rear of the vehicle, which was partially suspended over a ditch

Fire and EMS crews extricated the victim from the vehicle onto the stretcher

Deputy EMS Chief Biddle and Westwood EMS personnel take the patient to the awaiting Ambulance for transport

Personnel begin to clean up the equipment used after the patient had been extricated

Firefighter/EMT Pacana cleans up cribbing

Firefighter Swick picks up the door which was removed during the rescue process

The interior of the vehicle after the victim extrication shows that the steering wheel was cut and the dashboard was lifted in order to provide greater access to the victim

The towing company begins to remove the vehicle

This pickup truck struck a cluster of trees after leaving the roadway


By Assistant Fire Chief John Sly
January 13, 2008

On Sunday, January 13th, 2008 Fire & Ambulance units from the Westwood Fire Company were dispatched at 1745 to the 2800 block of Strasburg Road in East Fallowfield Township for a report of a vehicle accident. A call to Chester County 911 reported an accident had been heard in the area, but the caller was unsure of the extent of injuries or exact location. Chief 44 responded at 1746. Firefighter/Paramedic Sigismonti was quickly on the scene and confirmed the location of the accident and reported a victim trapped inside the vehicle due to the extent of damage. While Chief McWilliams was advised of this information, the Westwood Fire Company was redispatched to update this report and Medic 93 from Brandywine Hospital was dispatched to assist. Chief 44 arrived on the scene at 1750 and established "Strasburg Command." Rescue 44 responded at this time with Ambulance 44 shortly thereafter. East Fallowfield Police requested that Fire Police close Strasburg Road between Park Avenue and Rebecca Lane to assist with traffic control. Strasburg Command advised Rescue 44 to park along the roadway and illuminate the scene with lighting, and deploy the hydraulic rescue tools and stabilization equipment. Rescue 44 arrived at 1754. Our personnel entered the vehicle through the windows to stabilize the victim while rescue personnel began to work around the vehicle. Rescue crews began to secure the vehicle which was balancing over a ditch and remove the doors from the vehicle in order to get the patient out of the passenger compartment of the truck. The patient was extricated at 1808, fourteen minutes after the arrival of our apparatus. Once the patient was removed from the truck, Westwood EMS crews secured the victim onto a spinal immobilization board as a precaution and placed the victim on the stretcher. The patient was transported by Westwood Ambulance and Medic 93 to Lancaster General Hospital's Trauma center. Crews began to clean up all the equipment and tools utilized at the scene. Rescue 44 and Fire Police cleared the scene at 1836.

Units:	Ambulance and Rescue 44

Mutual Aid:	Medic 93-1

Victim Trapped in East Fallowfield Auto Accident