"5-Car Accident" Snarls Weekend Traffic

28 February 2004

Saturday, February 28th, 2004, was busier than usual for Sugarloaf Fire Rescue. Many of the SLVFD personnel, including the Explorers, were at the station doing the usual Saturday morning truck checks and station duties when SLVFD along with Rescue-11 were toned for an accident "just north of the Owl Store, possibly involving 5 vehicles." Rescue-11 was at Station 10 at the time and was immediately en route followed by Squad-10 and Engine-10.

The accident was on the "Cudjoe stretch" at about MM 22 with the vehicles involved pretty much blocking both north- and southbound traffic. The Paramedic's initial assessment showed that there were 5 patients needing treatment, including a child. Since the possibility of spinal injuries could not be ruled out, each of the patients would need to be transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Rescue-9 was dispatched from Big Coppitt Station and Rescue-8 was dispatched from the Stock Island Station.

Until the arrival of Rescue-8 and Rescue-9, treatment was provide to all patients by the Rescue-11 crew along with the three EMTs and numerous First Responder level personnel from Sugarloaf Fire Rescue. Personnel from SLVFD also used hydraulic extrication equipment to remove the driver side door from one of the vehicles to facilitate the removal of occupants.

Members of Post 569 contributed in a number of ways, including readying equipment, assisting on-scene, keeping track of and restowing equipment, debris management, and other tasks. They also efficiently readied the trucks for the next call as soon as they returned to the Station.

Brent Nelson, who , along with his wife, SLVFD member Diana Nelson are the founding parents and energy source behind Explorer Post 569, was actively involved in the scene as well as supervising the Explorers.