First responders from the West Grove Fire Company were dispatched for an auto accident in London Grove Township on Wednesday morning at 9:15am. Immediately, with callers reporting entrapment, the incident was upgraded and re-dispatched, adding in additional resources including advanced life support.
The call was reported in the southbound lanes of the Route 1 Bypass east of the Route 41 exit. WGFC responded with Ambulances 22-2 and -4, Engine 22-1, Squad 22, Brush 22, Utility 22-1 and fire police. With the upgrade, paramedics on Medic 94-2 responded, and mutual aid companies from Longwood and Avondale also offered assistance and were called into the scene.
Units traveled northbound and then returned to the southbound side to find a two-vehicle crash with an SUV on it's driver's side with a subject trapped. Crews immediately began efforts to stabilize the vehicle so they could perform a roof flap rescue. Having just placed into service the new grip hoist on Engine 22-1, crews combined the grip hoist and rescue struts to secure the vehicle and then used rescue tools (commonly called the "Jaws of Life") to remove the roof and gain access to the patient. Crews from 22, 23 and 25 worked seamlessly together to complete the extrication 25 minutes later.
Two patients were transported from the scene. At the same time, fire police from both West Grove and Avondale shut the Bypass from the Newark Road exit. Units cleared the scene at 10:10am.
Medic 94-2, Ladder 25, Squad 23, Ambulance 23-1, Traffic 23, Fire Police 23, PA State Police
The new grip hoist is used on its first rescue evolution along with struts to stabilize the vehicle for crews working on the roof flap.
Crews from the WGFC, along with Longwood and Avondale, work to remove the roof of this SUV on the Route 1 Bypass in London Grove. There was on subject trapped and two injuries.
Crews used rescue tools to remove the roof to gain access to one trapped patient.
