| At approximately 0415, units from Stonewall Jackson and Gainesville were dispatched to Box 1157 for an auto accident at Balls Ford Road and the 234 Bypass. Callers reported a t-bone collision between a tractor trailer and a work truck.
E511 arrived first and found a tractor trailer facing southbound in the northbound lanes and a stakebody truck in the intersection. E511's officer conducted a walkaround and determined there were 3 patients in the stakebody, the driver was trapped, and a saddle tank of hydraulic fluid on the tractor trailer was completely obliterated and its contents were flowing in two directions from the site of the collision, toward opposite sides of the bypass. Additionally there were two 40-pound propane tanks that had been ejected from the work truck and were laying damaged on the median, plus two more 20 pounders in the truck.
E511 established command, requested a HAZMAT complement, assigned the Truck OIC as Extrication Group leader, M511 as EMS Group Leader, and requested a third transport unit. An ambulance from Bristow and HAZMAT units from Coles and Buckhall responded.
The engine firefighters temporarily contained the HAZMAT runoff and pulled a protective handline. The truck officer and firefighter went to work stabilizing and then extricating with RS504 when they arrived. The truck driver was assigned to use monitors to determine if the propane tanks were leaking, and the engine driver was setting up lights and handling equipment.
BC501X arrived and assumed command. HAZMAT 506, HMS516, and E516 arrived and were assigned to control the runoff. A525 arrived and took over care of the third patient.
The driver was extricated and 3 patients were transported to Prince William Hospital. T511 and the HAZMAT complement remained on the scene until approximately 0600 containing runoff. |
