Fifteen Car Pile-up On Interstate 79 Involving EVFD Personnel
By Chief Matthew Seagren
December 7, 2008
At 0750 hours, Edinboro was dispatched to a reported two-vehicle motor vehicle accident on Interstate 79 at the 164 mile marker Northbound. Initially reported as two semis blocking the roadway, this accident quickly grew to involve 15 vehicles including Assistant Chief 390's vehicle. Chief 390 and Chief 381 responded to the scene of the initial incident while Rescue-Engine 384 and Squad 387 responded from the station. Chief 390 and Chief 381 arrived on location at the south end of the incident in whiteout conditions and proceeded to pull off to the shoulder beside a stopped PennDOT plow truck. At that time, a semi traveling too fast for conditions, struck another semi south of the scene, then struck the PennDOT truck, spinning it 180-degrees, and then continuing on to strike Chief 390's vehicle sending it off the roadway. Chief 381 reported back to Chief 380 on Engine 384 that they had been struck and to expedite to the scene. Rescue-Engine 384 arrived on location and Chief 380 assumed I-79 command. Chief 381 and Chief 390 were both self-extricated from the vehicle and were assessed by on scene EMS. The crew from 384 proceeded to move north through the incident to investigate the initial incident and to check on patients in the additional vehicles that were now involved in the event. Two minor injuries were reported, with one refusal and one patient transported to Meadville Medical Center. Crews found that the initial accident occurred when a semi jack knifed and blocked the entire lane and a second semi, unable to see the first one due to the whiteout, drove through the side of the empty trailer. As traffic began to back up, additional incidents occurred until Edinboro, Saegertown, and Hayfield units were able to divert traffic off of Interstate I-79. Interstate 79 was closed until approximately 1320 hours when all units were returned to quarters. Both Chief 390 and Chief 381 are doing okay with some soreness and bruising. Thank you to all of the Departments that called to check on us and our Brothers.
