Around 11:30 pm on the night of August 6, 2004, Deputy Chief Steve Sobolewski of the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad pulled up on a single car rolled over into a tree on Connecticut Ave near Baltimore St in Kensington, Maryland.
An assignment for the collision with two pinned was dispatched, bringing Engine 51 and Ambulance 59 from Kensington Volunteer Fire Department, Wheaton's Rescue Squad 28 and Medic 20, and Medic 10 from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, as well as numerous chief officers. Units found a mid-size car on its side wrapped around a tree with one patient severely pinned and one partially ejected and not breathing.
A rapid extrication by the initial units and transport by Medic 10 saved the life of the second patient. One of the longest extrications in recent memory followed to carefully remove the second, conscious and alert, patient from the car. After stabilizing the car, Rescue Squad 28's crew removed the roof, providing access for ALS care by Medic 20 and a Maryland State Police helicopter medic. Once the patient was exposed, it became apparent that his legs were pinned between the dashboard, seat, and the tree. Working inside the tight space in the passenger cabin, the squad crew utilized numerous tools to displace the wreckage without injuring the patient further.
Rescue Squad 18 from Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad was special-called to the scene for relief manpower, but ended up operating on the bottom of the car, removing the floorboards and bottom of the seat cushion through the floor. Kensington's Rescue Squad 5 utilized a winch to stabilize the tree in the event it became necessary to remove the car from the tree.
After close to 90 minutes of work by the combined crews, the patient was removed from the car and flown to a local trauma center.
All three squads, the engine, both medic units, and the ambulance were staffed 100% by volunteers from the three departments, totaling over 25 trained rescuers.
