Clearspring Responds to Fatal Accident With Entrapment in Washington County, Maryland

Clearspring, MD- On November 7, 2005, Washington County 9-1-1 took several calls reporting a vehicle accident in the 12400 block of Cedar Ridge Road.

Crews from Clearspring Fire and EMS along with Maugansville Fire's Rescue Squad were immediately dispatched around 9:12 pm. After crews were started, a follow up caller walked down to the scene to confirm that there was one subject unconscious in the vehicle.

Clearspring Fire Chief Mundey was one of the first units to arrive on the scene.

Upon his arrival, Chief Mundey sized up the scene to find a Jeep Cherokee that struck a utility pole and then a tree head on. Chief Mundey reported to Washington County Dispatch that he had a Priority 1 Entrapment and assumed Cedar Ridge Command.

With the seriousness of the accident, MSP Medevac Trooper 3 was started on the incident.

After Paramedic 491 was able to assess the patient, they reported they had a Priority 1 multi-system trauma with an unsecure airway. They advised RSI would be needed upon Trooper 3's arrival.

Washington County Trauma was pre-alerted and kept updated by Washington County Dispatch on the situation when possible. While EMS tried to stabilize the patient, crews from Company 4 and 13 worked vigorously to extricate the patient from the mangled vehicle.

Command was able to report the patient extricated around 9:43 pm.

Once the patient was fully extricated, crews began transport to Washington County Trauma by ground with the Paramedic off Trooper 3 onboard.

The patient involved died a short time later at Washington County Trauma Center. Once transported, remaining crews remained on the scene for a short duration assisting police until all hazards could be removed.