Editor's Note -- Prince George's County fire officials and medical staff at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore say they were able to reattach the arm of the severely injured firefighter. The three other firefighters injured in the crash have been released after receiving treatment.
LANDOVER, Md. (WUSA) -- Four Prince George's County Firefighters have been taken to a hospital with traumatic injuries after a violent crash on the Capital Beltway in Landover early Wednesday morning.
According to Maryland State Police, the collision involving a fire truck, a tractor trailer, and a Jeep occurred just before 3:00 a.m. on the Inner Loop of I-495 just south of Route 50. MSP confirms the crash has sent a total of 7 patients to local hospitals by ambulance and medevac.
Chief Alicia Francis, spokeswoman for Prince George's County Fire and Rescue, is on the scene and confirms four of the seven patients are firefighters, and two of them suffered very serious injuries. All of the injured firefighters were taken to PG Trauma. According to Chief Francis, the driver of the tractor trailer and two victims from the Jeep were taken to Medstar. Right now the severity of the civilian's injuries are unknown. At this time none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.
Prince George's County Fire Chief Marc Bashoor is also at the scene and tells WUSA*9 reporter Delia Goncalves the crash occurred when Fire Engine 828 out of West Lanham Hills was heading back home after responding to a call. Chief Bashoor says it appears the engine was struck by the tractor trailer from behind, sending both vehicles into the concrete barrier separating the Inner and Outer Loops. This initial collision sent wreckage and concrete debris into the northbound lanes of the Beltway, where a Jeep was also caught up in the crash.
MSP officials tell WUSA*9 investigative teams are responding to the crash. Chief Francis says lane closures on both sides of the Beltway south of Route 50 are expected to last for some time. Right now two right lanes of traffic are moving past the crash scene in both directions.
Stay tuned to WUSA*9 and WUSA9.com for updates on this developing story as they're made available.
Republished with permission of WUSA9.
