In the early morning hours of Saturday March 25 a tractor trailer collided with 2 trees on the side of westbound I-70. The call came out at 0451 hours (4:51 am). The wreck was on westbound I-70 west of Route 97. The call was reported to be with heavy entrapment and spilled diesel fuel. Considering the amount of diesel fuel spilled the wreck was considered a HAZMAT (hazardous materials) incident.
The initial dispatch brought Paramedic 45, Engine 43, Engine 41, Paramedic 35, and Paramedic Engine 31. This resulted in more than 12 personnel responding to the scene. The second and third dispatch brought 9 more pieces of apparatus to the scene.
The tractor trailer was heavily damaged and the door had to be cut off. Part of the extrication of the driver required at least one firefighter to climb through the front windshield of the cab. The steering column of the truck had to be rolled back to allow access to the driver. The driver was semiconscious which prompted EMS personnel to request a Medevac helicopter from Maryland State Police (MSP). MSP Trooper 8 responded to the scene and flew the driver priority 2 to Shock Trauma in Baltimore.
The incident called approximately 42 personnel to the scene on I-70. There were no departmental injures reported. The scene was cleared about an hour and forty five minutes after fire department arrival.
