Yesterday afternoon on 6/29/21 at approximately 16:25 hours your Plymouth Fire Company No. 1 (Montco 43) volunteers were dispatched to mile marker 17.5 Southbound on Route I-476(Blue Route) for the reported accident with entrapment. Initial 911 calls indicated 1 vehicle into and over the guardrail coming to rest down a slight ditch in the center median with an occupant trapped with severe injuries.

Gladwyne Fire Company's Assistant Chief 24-1 who happened to be traveling on the highway at the time was first to arrive at the accident scene and advised Montgomery County Radio of 1 occupant confirmed trapped with "doors and a roof to go."

Rescue 43 with a crew of 4 went en route minutes after dispatch followed by Engine and Battalion 43 with a crew of 5 and Squirt 43 with a crew of 3. Units arrived and immediately began stabilizing the sedan in order to affect the rescue. Battalion Chief 43 then established the Blue Route Command and upon the arrival of Plymouth Community Ambulance Association - Medic 308 units a flight medivac was requested and advised they would landing the helicopter directly onto the highway. 43 units established a landing zone in the Southbound lanes of the highway just South of the crash scene and assisted PENNSTAR in landing their aircraft.

Station 43 crews then went to work with multiple hydraulic rescue tools to affect a complex rescue situation of the entrapped occupant in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. Crews completed a full side wall removal on the driver's side of the vehicle along with both passenger side doors and the roof. Crews then had to cut away a large section of the metal guardrail that pierced through the vehicle to allow EMS and the medical flight crew to gain access to the patient.

Command marked the rescue complete in just under 40 minutes. The patient was transferred into the care of EMS and air lifted to a local trauma center. The accident investigation was being handled by the PA State Police.

An absolutely tremendous job, effort and teamwork by all crew members of each agency on scene especially in the excessive heat! A special thanks to our assisting agencies George Clay Fire Company - Station 39's Squad 39, and Harmonville Fire Company No.1's fire police unit for their assistance on scene