Halfway Responds To Vehicle vs Guardrail

On the evening of January 5th, crews from the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway were alerted at 18:01 hours for a personal injury accident on Hopewell Road in the area a Wantz Distributors. Washington County ECC had reports of a single vehicle accident with entrapment in front of the business. Halfway Engine 261 arrived to find a single pick-up truck off the road into the guardrail. Lieutenant Cleveland off Engine 261 investigated and found he had one patient impaled by the guardrail which went through the truck. Lieutenant Cleveland conducted a quick assessment recognizing the seriousness of the patient’s injuries and initiated patient care by placing a tourniquet to control the patient’s excessive bleeding.

Chief Drawbaugh arrived and assumed Hopewell Road Command and Lieutenant Cleveland took Rescue Group operations. EMS crews worked to stabilize the patient who had life-threatening injuries and was classified as a Priority 1 Category B Trauma. After evaluation, aviation was requested to the scene as crews off Engine 261 and Williamsport Rescue Engine 2 worked to extricate the patient. With all hands working on the scene, Command called for Hagerstown Fire Department Engine 4 to assist with establishing a Landing Zone with Fire Police Shank (8FP264).

The patient who was entrapped by the guardrail suffered serious injuries to both his lower extremities. Crews worked for 23 minutes conducting extrication before freeing him from the wreckage. Once removed, Medic 269 and Captain 75 worked to do a complete assessment on the patient and worked to stabilize them as Maryland State Police Aviation’s Trooper 3 was inbound out of Frederick to transport the patient. The patient was then transported by Medic 269 to a close by Landing Zone where patient care was transferred over to Trooper 3’s crew. Trooper 3 lifted off at 18:49 inbound to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore Maryland.

Upon the completion of fire department operations, Command began releasing a majority of the units on the call. Engine 261 remained on the scene for an additional hour assisting Washington County Sherriff Deputies until all hazards were able to be removed from the scene.

Halfway received assistance on the incident from Williamsport Fire & EMS Rescue Engine 2, Community Rescue Captain 75, Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association Safety 202, Washington County Division of Emergency Services Assistant Director Chisolm (1801), Hagerstown Fire Department’s Western Enterprise Engine 4, and Washington County Fire Police. The Washington County Humane Society was requested for three dogs that were in the truck but uninjured, but family arrived and took care of the dogs and their services were not needed.