Car Accident Injures 10, Ties Up Traffic for Hours

At just around 11:25 on August 28, 2007, Cherry Hill Firefighters and EMTs responded to a motor vehicle accident on Route 561 in the area between Rue De Bois and Evesham roads with reported people trapped. Responding units were advised that at least 4 cars were involved, about 10 people injured including small children, and 1 person was still trapped in their vehicle. A CHFD Battalion Chief was the first to arrive, confirmed the number of victims and the entrapment, and immediately directed dispatchers to add an appropriate number of Fire and EMS resources to the scene. An EMS supervisor also responded to help set up triage assessments for the large number of victims.

The coordinated EMS response helped to identify several patients as priorities and they were packaged and taken to area hospitals. The trapped victim was freed by firefighters using several powered and hydraulic rescue tools. The heavy damage to the front of his vehicle caused him to become entangled in the passenger compartment. Firefighters removed the roof of the vehicle to give EMTs and Paramedics access to their patient, and then continued to free the entanglements, remove the car doors and place him on a backboard. The majority of the remaining injuries were minor in nature, and all patients received assessment and treatment on the scene, and transported to a hospital for further care. Cherry Hill Fire Department ambulances transported at total of 10 victims.

Cherry Hill Police had Route 561 shut down for almost two hours as they investigated the accident. It remains under investigation by the Cherry Hill Police Traffic Unit.

To see more photos, visit CHFD's Flickr.com account.