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Firefighters were dispatched to an MVA on the inner loop of the West Shore By-Pass around 19:00 this evening. Police on location were reporting victims on the roadway. Engine 8, Rescue 1, Medic 601 and Car 3 responded initially to the incident, Engine 1 and Medic 602 and 603 were called soon after. Traffic was blocked off and apparatus responded the wrong way on the highway from Lancaster Avenue. Apparatus arrived on location and firefighters began assessing the victims. Two were very critical and were packaged and transported to Reading Hospital right away. Another victim was treated prior to being transported however Reading was unable to accept a third trauma so the decision to fly the patient to another Trauma Center was made.
Engine 9 was special called to the ball field in Schlegel's Park which was designated as a landing zone for the helicopter. By the time the ambulance got to the landing zone with the patient, Reading Hospital was available to take the third victim who was then taken to the Medical Center by ambulance.
The fourth victim in the vehicle reportedly climbed out on his own. A unit from Southern Berks was called to the scene to assess the patient. He was eventually transported to Reading Hospital with minor injuries.
Although rescue personnel did not have to extricate any of the victims, they had their hands full caring for the victims. Two of the firefighters that responded drove the ambulances to the hospital as the patients were being treated by Paramedics.
Reportedly, the vehicle was in the westbound lane headed toward the city when it was forced up a grass embankment by another vehicle. Witnesses stated that the car rolled several times and three of the injured were thrown from the vehicle. the accident occurred just over the city line. It was also reported that three of the the victims were teenagers and the fourth was 21 years old.
Firefighters cleared the scene by 20:30 however the roadway was closed for up to three hours according to reports in the Reading Eagle. Motorists effected by the ensuing traffic jams caused by the incident called a local radio call-in program the next morning to voice their displeasure of having to be inconvenienced.
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