At 0009 hours on Tuesday, August 31, units from Riverdale, Hyattsville and Medic 8 were dispatched to the intersection of Route 1 and East West Highway for a reported accident with one trapped.

Units arrived to find a Chevy Camero wrapped around a utility pole with live electrical wires down. The driver of the vehicle, an adult male, was severely trapped. His legs were critically injured and tangled when the car crushed around the pole. Debris from the vehicle flew up to 100 feet on impact, reportedly after the vehicle was travelling in excess of 120 miles per hour, police said.

Within minutes of arrival, Medic 8's crew, realizing that the incident would be a prolonged extrication, requested the Go-Team, bringing 4-5 trauma surgeons and nurses from the hospital to the scene. They were transported to the scene by an ambulance from the Bladensburg station.

Chief 7B, the incident commander from the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department, arrived and requested an additional rescue squad to support operations for a prolonged extrication. Rescue Squad 2 from the Cottage City station responded and was on the scene shortly thereafter.

During the peak of the incident, four hydraulic rescue tools from Rescue Squad 1 were in use, along with numerous hand tools, cribbing and support equipment. Crews from Hyattsville, Riverdale and Cottage City completed the extrication in 45 minutes.

The 911 dispatch was received at 0009 hours with units arriving minutes later. PEPCO, the local power company, arrived on the scene at the same time as the rescue units and crews controlled the power lines which were dangling dangerously close to the car as the extrication began. The victim was extricated and loaded into the Medic 8 at about 0055 hours.

The victim was extricated a few minutes before doctors on the scene would have had to amputate one or both of his legs. He suffered compound fractures to both legs, among other serious injuries. He was in and out of consciousness during the incident.

The victim was transported by land to Prince George's Hospital Center's trauma unit where he was listed in critical condition early Tuesday morning.

Prince George's County and Hyattsville City police were investigating the accident and the suspect, who was AWOL from a Mississippi Air Force base and driving a stolen vehicle.

Prior to the accident, the victim struck several vehicles in the College Park area before continuing southbound on U.S. Route 1. A Hyattsville City police cruiser spotted the vehicle, but it sped away at a high rate of speed and then struck the pole at the intersection.

Units on Scene: Engine 72, Ambulance 77 & Chief 7B (Riverdale), Rescue Squad 1 & Chief 1A (Hyattsville), Medic 8, EMS-1, Car 66, Car 610, Car 604, A-98 (Bladensburg with the Go-Team), Light Unit 19 (Bowie), Prince George's County and Hyattsville City Police.

Also See: Washington Post or Prince George's Journal story.

Past Serious Crashes on East West Hy:

• April 12, 1997: 1600 Blk East West
• May 26, 1997: East West/Route 1
• HVFD Named '97 Squad of the Year for EW/Route 1 Crash

Photos from incident online later this week

Shortly after 11 a.m. on Monday, August 30, units from the Hyattsville VFD and surrounding stations were dispatched for a reported house fire. Engine 12 and Rescue Squad 1 arrived on the scene and encountered heavy fire conditions from two sides of the house.

The fire was contained to the basement of the dwelling in the 3900 block of Nicholson Street in Hyattsville. Units were on the scene for about two hours.

During the course of the firefighting operation, Volunteer Fire/EMS Lieutenant Dave Hang suffered minor burns to his cheek. He was treated and released from the Burn Unit at Washington Hospital Center and was not expected to be out of service for more than a few days.

Units Responding: Hyattsville, Riverdale, Mount Rainier, Brentwood, Chillum, Riverdale Heights, Car 61 (PIO), Car 1516 & 1519 (Investigations), Operational Services Commander.