BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn - Saturday, November 8,2008 - 9:15 pm - Emergency crews
from Bradley County Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a head on crash in
the 7400 block of Highway 60. When the first unit arrived on the scene they
quickly discovered the severity of the crash, reporting a head on collision
between two SUV's and a large number of injured. That unit also reported
multiple entrapments in both vehicles.
With in minutes, several additional rescue
units were on the scene. Emergency workers almost immediately started
calling for additional help as well as several air ambulances for the
critically injured patients. Additional units were quickly dispatched
including medic units from neighboring Hamilton County. Two Life Force air
ambulances for Erlanger Medical Center, an Air Evac air ambulance and a Life
Star air ambulance from Knox County were also dispatched to the scene.
Rescuers quickly started simultaneous
extrications on both SUV's to free the trapped patients. Meanwhile, medics
were already tending to several patients that were not trapped. As the air
ambulances arrived on scene they were rapidly loaded and launched to
Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. One witness said it appeared as if
this was a horrible scene out of a violent movie.
Rescuers were able to free the last
patient after about thirty minutes. In all there were 12 patients, several
children and adults. 6 of the patients were flown by air ambulance and 6 by
ground, most of the patients were taken to Erlanger, however several also
went to Bradley County Hospital.
Story and photos by Bill Carson
