The quiet of a weekend morning was abruptly interrupted on Sunday, December 6 when a passenger vehicle left Saw Mill Road and came to an abrupt stop in the small Thomas Run tributary of the Darby Creek.  An approximate 9:15 a.m. dispatch sent fire and police personnel from both Newtown Square and Radnor Townships to the 3300 block of the gently winding road that is shared by the town adjacent communities.

 

Responding police and fire found a sample of the type of accident that occurs on Saw Mill Road.  This was verified when one volunteer commented that over the past approximate decade there has been a collection of similar incidents.  The one event remembered by many-seasoned Newtown Square emergency crewmembers occurred only a few feet from this most recent incident. In that accident, a car hit the front of a home with sufficient impact to demolish the building’s front porch.

 

This incident put the car onto its side, with its front up against a tree. Partial, but undependable stabilization was provided as the vehicle abruptly stopped and was partially balanced upon a rock near the stream.  The posture of the car and the inability to safely extract the diver without rescue tools validated the alert message that stated there was a need for extrication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

As a visual survey of the patient was begun, steps were taken to totally and professionally stabilize the partially overturned vehicle.  Thanks to their ongoing training and experience, the local firefighters quickly completed the total immobilization of the vehicle. This safety procedure permitted a safe working environment to remove the “top” doors of the vehicle.

 

Extrication and stabilization was done through the removal both of the exposed doors.  The driver’s door was removed to gain access to the driver. The removal of the second (rear) door provided emergency personnel an access to the patient so they could properly stabilized the cervical area of the male driver as well as aiding in his removal.

 

Once out of the vehicle, the driver was transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital for further evaluation.