Brattleboro Vt. firefighters and medics from Rescue Inc. responded to Route 9 just outside of Brattleboro at approximately 9 a.m. on April 20th to the report of a motor vehicle accident, car versus tree with entrapment.
Upon arriving, units found a Subaru Loyale that had left the roadway, passed through a large wooden sign and struck a tree. The driver of the vehicle was conscious, having difficulty breathing, and pinned into the vehicle by the dashboard and steering column.
Firefighters and medics immediately began treatment and extrication of the victim, who had become unconscious and needed assistance breathing.
Firefighters rapidly cut both front doors from the car, allowing access for responders before using a hydraulic ram to move the dashboard away from the patient, who was then removed through the passenger side of the vehicle on a backboard.
The DHART helicopter from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. was requested and responded, eventually landing in a horse pasture immediately behind the scene of the accident.
After extrication the victim arrested and required CPR and advanced lifesaving techniques by medics, firefighters, and the team from the DHART helicopter. The rescuers revived the victim, and transported him by helicopter to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, where he later died.
