At 5:51 pm on Friday, June 1, 2018, the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched as Automatic Aid to the intersection of Church Hill Road (Maryland 213) & Round Top Road, in Queen Annes County. The incident had been dispatched as a Motor Vehicle Collision with Entrapment.

Units arrived to find a multiple vehicle incident, with two patients heavily entrapped in two vehicles. Queen Annes County Emergency Medical Services provided patient care. Maryland State Police Aviation was requested. Crews from Chestertown VFC, Church Hill VFC and the Crumpton VFC worked together diligently to perform this double rescue.

Because of the crash damage and the patient’s conditions, it was determined a “Dash Roll” was the best means to get them out. A Dash Roll is executed by cutting the “A” post (the structural member that attaches the vehicle roof to the main body) by the windshield, with hydraulic cutters. Then? Again using hydraulic cutters, a relief cut is placed in the floor of the vehicle, just in front of the front seat. Then? Using hydraulic ram spreaders, the entire assembly / front of the car is pushed forward. The dash / steering wheel rotates forward and up, freeing the patients. The operations worked perfectly and took about 25 minutes for the extrications to be completed.

Once freed from the vehicles, both patients were completely evaluated by paramedics. They were subsequently airlifted by Maryland State Police Aviation to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. A total of four patients, with less serious injuries, were transported by ambulance for further evaluation and treatment. Two were transported to the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown and the other two were transported to the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Queenstown. One individual, also involved in the incident, refused medical treatment at the scene.

There were no injuries to emergency personnel. Church Hill Road (Maryland 213) was briefly closed during this incident. The crash scene was turned over to the Maryland State Police for investigation.

Contributed photos by Matt Purnell and members of the Chestertown VFC.

Companies & Organizations on the scene:
Chestertown VFC
Church Hill VFC
Crumpton VFC
Centreville VFC
Queen Annes County Emergency Medical Services
Kent & Queen Annes Rescue Squad
Chestertown Police Department
Maryland State Police – Centreville Barrack
Maryland State Police Aviation
Queen Annes Animal Control was also on the scene. There were no animals involved. They happened by and stopped to help.