With temps bottoming out and wind chills 10 to 20 below zero, Christiana volunteers were alerted Sunday morning at 0338hrs for a reported vehicle accident in the area of Swan Road and Upper Valley Road in Atglen Borough, Chester County,

Captain 52-1 (Lofgren) signed on soon after dispatch to receive additional information of a patient unconscious after a vehicle accident. Additional information followed including the updated location of the incident in front of 110 Upper Valley Road. Assistant 52 (Buckwalter) went on the scene minutes later with one vehicle off the side of the road into a tree. An initial walk around determined two patients in the vehicle, one unconscious and pinned and one in the passenger side with a head injury. The report was forwarded to Lancaster Dispatch with a request of a Chester County Rescue and BLS unit be added.

Duty Officer 52 arrived to assume command and relayed incoming instructions to Engine 52-1 of stabilization and to start extrication. Members from KVFD & Rescue 8 (KVFD) arrived minutes later to assist in the rescue followed by Rescue 42 who was dispatched as a cover for Rescue 8. The passenger side patient was quickly extricated and removal of the passenger “b” post, rear door and seat back provided room to remove the pinned driver.

Thanks to KVFD and Gap Fire for the assistance.

** A second run of an Automatic Fire Alarm was also received while units were cleaning up from the accident. Deputy 52 (Fisher) and Rescue 42 covered for Engine 52-1.

Units cleared from both incidents around 0530hrs.