| Bright clear skies, a rising sun, and the position of the roadway all came together in Penn Township on September 9, as eastbound drivers on the US 1 Bypass found themselves nearly blind, and what began as a simple accident became two hundred yards of damaged vehicles, with more than 10 cars and trucks involved.
The West Grove Fire Company and Medic 94 were dispatched at 656 am for an accident involving fire. With multiple calls coming into the Chester County 911 center, an additional ambulance from Oxford was also added to the call. Callers reported many cars involved, and that one person was using a fire extinguisher to try and put out a fire.
Rescue 22 and Ambulance 22-1 responded quickly. Captain 22 arrived and reported at least four cars involved and no fire. After a scene size up, he then reported entrapment, and the assignment was upgraded. Deputy 22 arrived and established Bypass Command.
Drivers eastbound on the interstate reported that, as they came up the hill after crossing into Penn Township, the sun was rising at just the right angle that it completely filled their windshields. A first accident occurred, and then drivers approaching began hitting vehicles as they slowed for the first accident. The end result was at least six cars, two pickup trucks, an SUV and a tractor trailer involved.
Rescue 22 and Ambulance 22-1 headed to the scene by driving southbound in the now closed northbound lanes and deployed hydraulic rescue tools to remove the entrapped victim. Medic 94-1 and Medic 94-2 arrived along with Ambulance 21-1, with Rescue 12 and Engine 32 and Ambulance 22 and Squad 22 responding.
West Grove fire police units closed northbound Route 1 at 896.
Rescue 22 completed extrication 13 minutes after arriving on the scene. That patient was transported to Christiana Hospital with Medic 94 and Ambulance 21-1. A second injury was transported to Christiana by Ambulance 22-2.
Ambulance 22-1 took three separate trips to the nearby Jennersville Regional Hospital from the scene. Ambulance 23-1 was also called to the scene and transported to JRH.
The last patient was transported from the scene and operations began to wrap up by 0800. |
