W.Va. Firefighters Assist With Crash That Injured Six

March 07--West Virginia State Police are investigating a motor vehicle accident that injured six occupants after their SUV went off the roadway and traveled approximately 100-feet down a steep embankment in Fayette County Friday, according to a spokeswoman for the Ansted Fire Department.

The WVSP, Ansted and Nuttall fire departments, Jan-Care and General Ambulance Services responded to the scene, a remote area off Saturday Road, near Horseshoe, according to AFD Public Information Officer, Meredith Gray.

Gray said the area has limited cell phone reception and initials calls to the Fayette County EOC were unclear. Information reported to Fayette County EOC varied, stating two to six people had sustained injuries, she said.

Before dispatchers were able to get additional details, the caller lost service and the call was dropped.

Once crews arrived on scene they found a mid-size SUV, carrying six occupants, nearly 100-feet down an extremely steep embankment. The Fayette County Ropes Rescue Team was dispatched, Gray said.

Four of the passengers were boys under the age of 18. Gray said the embankment was so steep and muddy, the less injured youngsters were unable to climb back to the one-lane gravel road they were traveling before the wreck.

Gray said rescuers heard cries of help from the victims who were stuck over the embankment, which she described as a 45-degree angle.

Once rope rescue crews were able to get rescuers down the embankment, they found the SUV on its side, pinned against one tree, while resting on another tree that was uprooted as a result of the collision, Gray said.

The two adult victims, one man and one woman, had to be extricated by firefighters using the Jaws of Life, she added.

All patients were provided care before the three most severely injured were raised back to the road in stokes' baskets, Gray said. The remaining three patients were harnessed for lifting.

Jan-Care and General Ambulance Services were on scene to treat and transport the patients, authorities said.

The adult female suffered the most severe wounds to her lower body and was flown via Health Net to a Charleston hospital, Gray said. The adult male, who sustained injuries to his rib cage area and a severe fracture to his leg, was transported to an area hospital.

The four teens -- three 16-year-old boys and one 17-year old -- sustained less severe injuries as well and were also transported, she added.

One teen suffered a broken collarbone and fractured knuckle; one sustained a broken thumb; another had a laceration near his eye and a possible broken nose; while the fourth teen injured his arm.

All the teens were treated and released, Gray said, and the scene was finally cleared more than five hours after the initial call.

"All of this took place at night, while the storms were moving through the area, and we had little relief from the rain. I would have to write a novel to explain the treacherous conditions and the blessings that these people received," Gray said. "They all remained conscious and alert and although it took more than five hours before we cleared the scene, all the patients were rescued, while no injuries were sustained by emergency responders."

Chad's Wrecking Service in Hico, assisted by members of the National Park Services, were able to successfully pull the SUV out of the embankment the following day after two tow trucks and several workers labored for more than six hours, Gray added.

A call to State Police for additional information was not immediately returned.

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