Tragic Memorial Day Collision

May 29, 1855 hrs

Units from Waldorf were dispatched on Memorial Day afternoon to Crain Highway and St. Patricks Drive for the MVA with persons trapped. Responding units were advised enroute that there were two overturned vehicles with multiple subjects trapped. Units from Waldorf, LaPlata and Accokeek were clearing the scene from an odor of smoke in the Oakwood neighborhood. E-242 (Accokeek) was nearby Mall Circle and was the first unit on the scene of the MVA. E-32 arrived next on the scene, followed by RS-3, E-121, T-1, E-122, and RE-13. EMS units from Companies 3, 12, 51, 14 and 16 also responded, as did several area medic units. The crews found two vehicles overturned, with five people trapped in one car (two adults, and three small children) and another overturned car, with a male subject who had apparently crawled out of the vehicle.

Crews worked together to quickly to extricate the patients. EMS and Medic crews treated the patients and prepared them for the medievacs. Two children were flown to Childrens National Medical Center and three adults were flown to Washington Hospital Center. Tragically one patient, a four-year old boy, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Chief 3 had the incident command, Chief 3A had operations, EMS Chief 16 had EMS Command, and E-122 set up the Landing Zone on Crain Highway with Chief 12B in command.

Our sincere thanks and appreciation go out to Company 1 (RE-13) for their extended assitance with the accident reconstruction.

Thanks also to Company 40 for serving as the fill-in crew at station 3 for an extended period of time.

Additional Responding Units: MSP Trooper 2, Park Police Eagle 2 and MedStar, CCSO, State Highway Administration