Soule Road Accident Requires Extrication

A wet snowfall created slippery roads on Monday night, March 8th, that contributed to a two vehicle accident on Soule Road.  MCFD Stations 1 and 4 were dispatched for a reported Signal 80, possibly with multiple injuries, on Soule Road near the Rt. 481 onramp.  Car 2 (D/C Zaferakis) arrived to find two minivans off the roadway on Soule Road near Burningtree Road.  Rescue 4 (Lt. Zeppetello) arrived immediately after and began patient size-up.  The Rescue Officer informed Command that extrication would be required on one vehicle and that (5) patients, including children, would need evaluation.  The Rescue Officer also requested a second Heavy Rescue.  Fire Control initially dispatched NOVA and GBAC ALS ambulances.  Command requested a 3rd ALS ambulance as well as Clay E21 (with extrication tools) and MCFD R3 based on the size-up information. Rescue 4 worked with the ambulances on scene to assess extent of injuries and prepared for extrication.  Engine 11 (Lt. Zampini) deployed a handline for scene safety while the hydraulic tools were in use. Squad 2 (F/F Rowland), staffed in-house with medical personnel, responded with Command's approval and assisted with patient care.  Rescue 3 (Capt. Jennings) performed patient packaging and removal from vehicle #2 as Rescue 4 finished the roof removal on vehicle #1.  All patients were removed from their vehicles and loaded into (2) ambulances within 29 minutes.  All total, two adults and two children were transported to city hospitals.

Soule Road remained closed for about 30 minutes after the fire crews picked while the vehicles were removed and for the County DOT to plow and salt the road.  Fire Policemen Tom Delasin, Nick Erard, Steve Mauser, and Steve Rubacky kept the road shut down during the operation.