HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn - Friday, May 8,2009 - 10:45 pm - Tri-Community
Volunteer Firefighters and medics with Hamilton County EMS were dispatched
with Hamilton County Sheriffs Officers to a reported car wreck on
Ooltewah-Ringgold Road near the intersection of Mountain Road. Within
seconds of the dispatch, a sheriffs officer that was in the area arrived on
the scene. That officer quickly reported a very serious roll over crash with
two people trapped in the vehicle and unresponsive. That officer requested
rescuers to step up there response.
In short order fire/rescue units and EMS crews arrived on the scene. Almost
immediately due to the critical nature of the injuries, Ems called for for
the Life Force air ambulance from Erlanger Medical Center. With lightning
speed and accuracy Tri-Community Firefighters worked with the Jaws of Life
and the Hurst cutting tool to cut the roof and take several doors off the
BMW. Meanwhile, working side by side with the firefighters, Hamilton County
Medics free the trapped patients, Ems crews started patient care.
Rescuers were able to free the patients in minutes and quickly load them
into ambulances.
One of the patients was taken to the Life
Force Helicopter to be flown to Erlanger Medical Center, the other was
transported by ground to Erlanger. Both patients were in critical condition.
The Hamilton County Sheriffs Department immediately started heir
investigation into how the crash occurred. Ooltewah-Ringgold Road was shut
down in the area for several hours while investigators worked. However the
exact cause is not known at this time.
Story and photos by Bill Carson
