During the early morning hours of Saturday, September 11, 2004, while preparing to depart for their annual 9-11 attendance at ceremonies in New York City, volunteers with the Whitehouse Rescue Squad were called for a motor vehicle accident involving multiple tractor trailers and vehicles. Dispatch advised as per NJ State Police, that there were multiple trucks and cars involved in an unknown injury accident in the westbound lanes of Rt. 78 in Readington Township, just east of Exit 24.
The EMS Crew of station 22RESCUE went enroute immediately in Rescue Ambulance 22-55, and were updated that as per NJ State Police, heavy entrapment, serious patients, and a request to fly NorthStar medivac was confirmed. Department Chief Jeff Herzog (2250) was enroute, and made sure support from local volunteer fire companies East Whitehouse (31FD) and Oldwick (24FD) were enroute for support. Rescue Services Unit 22-56 was next enroute, followed shortly by ALS unit EMS-1 from Hunterdon Medical Center, BLS unit 22-53 and BLS unit 22-52 with additional RSU members.
22-50 was first officer on scene and established Rt. 78 Command approximately 0630 hours, and confirmed 2 heavily entrapped patients in an SUV into the rear of a tractor trailer. 22-55 arrived and began stabilization of patients. RSU 22-56 arrived and began with stabilization of the Ford Explorer with the driver and passenger heavily entrapped by the dashboard. RSU volunteers made access thru a driver door pop, allowing the steering wheel to be removed from patient
