The Fitchburg Fire Department, along with FitchRona EMS and the Fitchburg Police Department, was dispatched to the intersection of S. Fish Hatchery Road and Adams Road in the City of Fitchburg for a motor vehicle accident. While enroute to the scene, the responding units were notified that three vehicles were involved in the crash, and at least 6 people were injured.
Fitchburg Engine 1 was the first unit to arrive on scene. Due to the number of patients, an additional 4 ambulances were requested to respond to the scene. Engine 1 crew began assessing the patients and mitigating the hazards, as well as preparing the vehicles for extrication equipment. Once on scene the crew of Fitchburg Squad 2 used the Jaws of Life to free the patients in the front seats of the red van and were transported to an area hospital by EMS. All occupants in the red van received serious injuries.
The driver of the black truck also received serious injuries, but the passenger, a three year old child who was properly restrained in a car seat, appeared to be uninjured at the time. The driver of the third vehicle, a truck pulling a trailer, was not injured.
Without a doubt, this situation could have been much worse, if all parties involved had not been wearing their seat belts.
The Fitchburg Fire Department received mutual aid from the following: City of Madison Fire Rescue Department, Town of Madison EMS Fire Department, Oregon Area Fire/EMS District, and Brooklyn Fire & EMS.
Please be careful on the roads as school is now back in session. Make sure to that you and all your passengers wear seat belts and that children are in appropriate safety seats at all times in your vehicles, no matter how short your trip may be. And remember, keep your eyes on the road at all times, do not become distracted. A crash like this can happen in a second.