| On Monday, August 23, 2010 at 7:01 AM, the Purchase and West Harrison Fire Departments were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident rollover on Interstate 287 westbound in the area of Exit 8. While units were responding, 60 Control advised that they were receiving multiple calls reporting several people trapped in the vehicle.
Cars 2501 and 2411 arrived first on scene to observe a work van that had rolled over multiple times before striking a tree. Harrison EMS immediately requested four additional ALS ambulances to the scene. The total patient count was initially unable to be confirmed due to the amount of wreckage and materials scattered within the van. Car 2411 established command while Car 2501 assumed the operations position.
Shortly after, Engine 240 and Rescue 30 arrived on the Westchester Avenue side of the accident and began stabilization and extrication efforts. While crews were removing equipment from Rescue 30, Rescue 35 and Utility 25 arrived to assist with the extrication. Due to the multiple locations called into 60 Control, the City of White Plains was also requested to the scene.
Firefighters worked to gain access to the inside of the vehicle to assess the degree of patient entrapment. A steel roof rack on top of the van was cut and partially removed using hydraulic cutters and a circular saw. Crews from all three departments then removed the rear doors and cut an opening in the roof. The paramedic inside the van reported that an unconscious patient was pinned by the wreckage. Firefighters removed the wreckage to free the patient, who was in cardiac arrest.
Harrison EMS requested six more ambulances after the patient count increased to over ten. Ambulances were dispatched from surrounding communities up to ten miles away. A total of twelve ambulances from nine agencies operated at the incident.
Seven patients were transported to Westchester Medical Center, another five to White Plains Hospital, and one to Sound Shore Medical Center. Command was terminated at 8:00 AM. |
