Miracle on the Beltway
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Adelphi – Firefighters and paramedics responded to a motor vehicle crash this morning at about 10:15 a.m on Friday, Aug. 6, 2004, along the outer loop of the beltway near New Hampshire Avenue. When they arrived on the scene they were confronted with three victims trapped in the wreckage of a four-vehicle crash and one of the most challenging rescues in recent months.
The vehicles came to rest in a triangle shape with the fourth vehicle crushed in the center of the triangle. A box truck struck the center vehicle from behind crushing everything behind the front seat headrest. To the left of the center vehicle wrapped around the wreckage was a pick up truck towing a trailer of roofing tar. On top of and to the right of the center vehicle was another car resting on its roof.
Rescuers located two adult female victims in the center vehicle and another adult female in the overturned sedan. All three victims were extricated in about 45 minutes. The victims were transported to area trauma centers via helicopters and ground transport units. Injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
Earlier in the day at about 9:10 a.m. rescuers responded to a motor vehicle crash on the inner loop, just south of Branch Avenue. An automobile struck the rear of a tractor-trailer causing the driver to be ejected from the vehicle.
The victim was treated by paramedics and transported by helicopter to an area trauma center. Again, injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.
“I’ve seen a lot of crashes and I can’t explain why these victims are not more severely injured. But, the important thing is that nobody suffered fatal injuries,” said Captain J.P. Medani. After surveying the wreckage Tony Dorsey summed up the morning’s activity by saying, “It’s a miracle on the beltway.”