My fire pager went off around 1:40 am Sunday. I didn't hear an announcement, only background voices. Something like "leave the room and close the door". I figured it was a mistake and stopped getting dressed.
Then the pager went off again, with an announcement this time: "Charlestown Fire District, you are responding to a motor vehicle accident with possible entrapment at 481 Carolina Back Road."
As usual the police and ambulance got there first. When we arrived I could tell it was not good. The car had gone head-on into the tree and was a lot smaller now than it was an hour ago. The first emergency responders to arrive were working furiously on the driver's side of the car. The rescue (ambulance) people were setting up their extrication ("jaws") equipment while we were setting ours up.
Two young men were lying on the ground on the passenger side of the car. One was moaning. I was more worried about the one who was very quiet. But I don't have EMT training and I had my own work to do.
About the time we got our extrication equipment set up and running I saw them pulling a person out of the driver's side of the car. That made me feel better even though we had only one ambulance on the scene and still didn't have enough medically-trained people to care for the injured. Then I took a moment to catch my breath and look at the car. Looking through the rear window I would see a hand resting on the dashboard. There was still someone inside.
It was around this time that I heard the announcement that they were setting up a helicopter landing zone at the elementary school. That is not unusual because Rhode Island Hospital has a trauma center better equipped for serious cases than we can have in South County. Still, we only see that done in Charlestown one or two times a year.
What followed was a fast and furious 30 minutes or so to get the driver out of the car. The roof was removed through the joint work of rescue and fire personnel and equipment. The driver's feet were hopelessly pinned between the brake pedal and where the engine ended up. They cut open his boots and they were able to slide his feet out.
I later asked how the steering wheel was removed and was told that it broke off in the crash.
While they were preparing the most seriously injured student for the helicopter I heard a radio call from the landing site request police help to separate parents of the boys who "were getting into it."
The Westerly Sun reported on the accident today, with the latest information. The police are investigating statements that the students, after the homecoming dance, were attending a party where alcohol was served, and the homeowner was present. There is also a claim that the home where the party was held is the residence of a School Committee member.
You can see the 100 feet or more of black skid marks leading up to the crash. The tree with bark missing on the side facing the road is obvious. Did I mention that the speed limit there is 35 miles per hour?
Students at Chariho High School are wearing white today in a show of support for the victims. Perhaps they should use it as a pledge to not do a similar thing.
The author is a volunteer for the Charlestown Fire District. He joined because of the exercise room which he has only used infrequently (though that must change!) and never thought he would end up driving fire trucks. He is now known as Tanker Tom.