Just after 6AM this morning the Rescue was dispatched along with Belmont Hills and George Clay Fire Companies to the westbound Schuylkill Expressway for a reported vehicle rescue. As units began to arrive on scene it was determined that a vehicle had left the roadway and had come to rest at the bottom of a ravine. Crews began to assemble equipment and come up with an incident action plan. Due to the limited access and close proximity to the river, the Gladwyne Fire Company was dispatched to assist with manpower by utilizing an access road off of Waverly Road and to have their rescue boats on standby. A coordinated rescue effort was utilized by all responders by deploying a come-a-long, stabilization struts, and low pressure air bags. Once this was in place, the air bag was inflated and cribbing was placed under the car to further support it as the sole occupant was extracted from the vehicle by members of Narberth Ambulance.
With the assistance of a specialized railroad vehicle, the patient was transported the mile down the tracks to the Gladwyne VFW where an aeromedical helicopter was waiting for transport to a local trauma center.
