Motor Vehicle Accident
July 8th, 2006, 12:51 AM - Medic 1 and Station 4 (Heilbronn Springs Volunteer Fire Rescue) were dispatched to a vehicle accident on State Road 16 West. Dispatch advised a car had hit a power pole. Shortly thereafter, Station 1 (Starke Fire Rescue) was dispatched due to the possibility of entrapment.
Upon arrival of the first Station 4 unit, a single vehicle was found with heavy damage all over, and a live power pole down. Conflicting reports were given as to the number of occupants of the vehicle, but one patient was still in the vehicle. Since there was a report that there was up to 5 victims in car, Medic 4 and Medic 2 were called, as well as mutual aid from Union County EMS. As Medic 1 arrived on scene, the downed power line started arching and rapid extrication was called for.
As Command began triaging patients, Medic 1 and Squad 1 began treatment of a male patient. Upon arrival of Medic 4, a second patient was found that had been ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Medic 2 arrived and began treatment of two "walking wounded" patients.
Medic 1 loaded their patient for transport to Shands Starke for stabilization, and then to Shands at The University of Florida for further trauma treatment. Medic 2 transported 2 stable patients to Shands Starke.
Command initiated a search of the entire scene using man power and Station 5's (Lawtey Volunteer Fire Rescue) thermal imaging camera. The 5th passenger was never found. It was later reported that there were, in fact, only 4 occupants of the vehicle.
Story by: B. Meehan, EMT-B