This was an accident on Highway 64/40 in St. Louis, MO. Ladue Fire Dept responded for a single vehicle mva with persons trapped.
We responded with one rescue pumper, one pumper, and one ALS ambulance with a total of 8 personnel.
Upon arrival found 40 y/o male entrapped in a Ford Explorer into a tree.
ALS treatment was initiated on scene during the 45 minute extrication.
The right side of the vehicle was heavily damaged and the steering column and dashboard were crushed onto the patient's legs.
The patient was extricated by removing the door with Hurst spreaders and cutters. A relief cut was made in the rocker panel and rams were used to roll the dash.
The patient had numerous lower extremity fractures, a right pneumothorax, and possible abdominal injuries.
The patient was not restrained. Lack of tire markings on the highway led police to believe the patient fell asleep at the wheel during accident reconstruction.
Once extricated the patient was transported by our ALS unit to a level one trauma center 5 miles away.
Ladue Fire Department is a municipal department in a suburb outside St. Louis. We have two engine houses with a total of 30 Firefighter/Paramedics. We staff one rescue pumper, engine, and ALS ambulance.
