California Crews Handle Wrecks

Firefighters from several departments in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties were
busy with two major wrecks on July 25.

The first crash occurred on Highway 166, a deadly stretch of highway known for several
fatal wrecks over the years.

A family of six traveling eastbound rolled their van over an embankment, ejecting one
young female, and injuring the remaining five. Bystanders assisted the family from the van
before firefighters arrived from nearby USFS Pine Canyon Station 35.

The crew went to work triaging the victims. They requested assistance from CALFIRE San
Luis Obispo Station 20, Santa Maria City Engine 3, several San Luis ambulance medic units
and CHP.

The ejected female and one other family member were in critical condition, and were
quickly transported to a local hospital. The remaining four suffered minor injuries, and
waited for additional medic units to arrive as firefighters and medics treated them.

Twenty minutes after the first wreck, a second one challenged crews in the Orcutt area.
Firefighters arrived to find one light duty truck overturned on its top, while two other
vehicles had minor damage. One female passenger was trapped with a leg and foot entangled in
the truck, requiring careful extrication.

Two engines, two AMR medic units, a battalion chief and CHP responded. The woman was
removed from the vehicle within 20 minutes, and transported to a local hospital. She
required surgery to amputate several toes and part of her left foot, but is expected to
fully recover.