May 6, 2008- BLS Mutual Aid Request into South Plainfield

North Stelton EMS provided assistance to the South Plainfield Rescue Squad on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 23:20 hrs for a multiple patient accident on Interstate 287. Units responded to the area of Mile Marker 4.5 on I287 North for a motor vehicle collision involving several vehicles including cars and motorcycles. Initial reports were that there were several patients either unresponsive or with serious injuries. North Stelton BLS16 fought through heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic from exit 4 (Durham Avenue) to the scene (just south of Exit 5 - Stelton Road). The highway is temporarily reduced to 3 lanes with no shoulder in this area due to ongoing construction activity involved with the re-decking of the Durham Avenue bridge. BLS16 arrived on scene approximately 15 minutes after going in service to find South Plainfield Fire & EMS units treating several patients along with RWJUH ALS and NJSP Medivac personnel. The NJSP helicopter landed in the northbound lanes of the highway between the scene and the Stelton Road overpass. BLS16 was assigned to treat two passengers from the motorcycles and found both patients supine on the right edge of the roadway. The patients, 22 and 30 year old females, were both luckily wearing helmets and were conscious and complaining of leg injuries. The patients were treated by North Stelton, South Plainfield, and Edison EMS personnel and transported by ground to St. Peter's University Hospital. All units were back in service by 01:00 hrs. We wish all involved a speedy recovery.

Update to this Incident: The patient who was flown (driver of Motorcycle) died at 3AM @ RWJ. THNT reports the accident was caused by a disabled vehicle in the left lane.

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