Upper Providence Township Department of Fire and Emergency Services

On Friday July 1, 2011 both the Oaks Fire Company (63) and the Upper Providence Township Department of Fire and Emergency Services (93) responded to a reported vehicle accident with injuries on Route 422 East Bound at the Pawling's Road overpass. Assistant Chief 63-2 (Callahan) arrived to find a one vehicle accident with a vehicle that was traveling east bound lodged in the cable barrier/divider between the east and west bound lanes trapping the female driver.

Assistant 63-2 advised Montgomery County Emergency Dispatch Services (MCEDS) of

entrapment. MCEDS then re-dispatched the incident as a vehicle accident w/ rescue which added the response of a rescue truck from the Collegeville Fire Company (34). Upon arrival of Engine 93, crews swiftly secured the vehicle hazards, stabilized the vehicle utilizing the Junkyard Dog Rescue Strut system and began extrication of the driver.  Extrication involved removal of the vehicle's roof utilizing the department's newly acquired Holmatro Duo-pump, Combi-tool and O-cutter, This rescue posed a unique challenge due to the elevation of the vehicle as well as being lodged between the guide cables. With the addition of Holmatro Rescue tools on Engine 93 our crew was able to extricate the driver of the vehicle in a timely manner prior to the arrival of the first due rescue truck thus providing the patient to be treated and transported by EMS without undue delay.  Additionally, elevated temperatures and humidity levels made the rescue effort more difficult to accomplish.