Capitol News

Motor Vehicle Crash Response/Crash involving Fire Apparatus

Cutlerville Fire responded to a weather-related motor vehicle crash today on NB US 131 at 84th Street. The call was received at 1139 hours. Crews had just returned from a prior call for service and responded to the area promptly to find a commercial vehicle on its side with an entrapped occupant.

C-2 established command while E-35 conducted rescue operations and P-37 moved into a position to protect the scene and block traffic.

Shortly after these assignments were initiated, another motorist collided with Platform 37. Conditions began to deteriorate rapidly from that point on, and the scene became too unsafe for responders to operate.

Crews and personnel had to be ordered off the road and out of harms way as multiple secondary accidents began to occur, to include a jack-knifing semi that became immediately hazardous to responders and victims.

Additional resources were called to the scene while crews worked to close the highway so they could safely triage patients and provide care. Byron Township Fire also responded and provided additional support in the closing of the highway.

After it was safe to do so, people were evacuated from their vehicles and off the highway to a safe location. Car 1 arrived, began a staging area for ambulances, and assumed command. Command began to employ portions of NIMS to manage the large scale incident. 

The original occupant of the rolled commercial vehicle was safely extricated and people were rescued from their stranded and wrecked vehicles without injury. The incident concluded with a total of 12 vehicles and 2 semis involved. 

We’re very thankful for our crews today, especially those called in from their time off to augment staffing. All involved were placed in harms way and performed admirably. 

This is also a special reminder to the motoring public. Please slow down and exercise extreme care and caution. If accidents are occurring, there isn’t a more clear indication that you shouldn’t be cruising along as you normally would. 

Far too many first responders are needlessly injured and killed trying to help citizens in need on the nation’s highways. It also damages very important equipment that our community relies on that we cannot easily or expediently replace due to limited availability in current conditions and inflated costs. 

Drive safe and stay off the roads if you don’t have to be on them.

Merry Christmas from Cutlerville Fire

Original source can be found here.