At 03:18 on August 31, units from Wattsburg Fire, Kuhl Hose, and Emergycare responded to a report of an explosion and MVA at the same location. It was determined shortly after the initial call that the explosion was actually the accident occurring. A small Dodge pickup truck and a tractor trailer tanker collided head on in the 11700 block of State Route 8 north of Wattsburg.
First arriving paramedic units found a tractor trailer jack-knifed in the ditch but still upright with the tanker load of hot oil still intact. The tractor had sustained heavy damage. About 150 yards from where the semi had come to rest the paramedic located the second vehicle, a small heavily damaged pick up truck. A female passenger was sitting on top of the exposed engine screaming. Initially the status of other patients was not known. Units arriving shortly after the paramedic discovered the driver of the small pick up heavily entrapped and pulse less and apneic.
The female passenger was taken by ground to Hamot Shock Trauma in Erie where she was listed in critical condition. The driver of the tractor trailer was transported to St. Vincent Health Center in Erie and was treated and released for minor injuries.
State Route 8 was closed for nearly six hours while the Pennsylvania State Police secured the scene, and reconstructed the accident.
Units on the scene included, Wattsburg Fire Department, Kuhl Hose Co, Emergycare ALS, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Erie County Coroners Office.
