Several People Injured When Truck Strikes Utility Pole

Willingboro Fire and EMS units, along with neighboring fire and EMS units responded to a motor vehicle accident on Route 130 near Charleston Road on October 9th. The units were dispatched at 2:42 pm for a reported accident with damage to several utility poles. Chief of Department Burnett and Engine 1613 arrived in four minutes and found two N. J. DOT trucks and a car were involved in the accident. Two utility poles were also damaged as a result of the accident.

Engine 1613's crew immediately went into service treating the injured people that were in one of the DOT trucks. Firefighter Friddell entered the DOT truck that struck the pole and held the head of the driver in case of a neck injury. Captain Gardner and Firefighter D. O'Donnell assisted in removing the driver from the truck once he was secured to an spinal immobilization board. Firefighters Anderson and Bennett assisted in giving medical care to occupants from the other vehicles that were involved in the accident.

The driver of a car that was involved in the accident was also treated before the arrival of EMS units. A total of five people were treated for injuries and transported to local hospitals for treatment. The most seriously injured person was transported to Cooper Trauma Center in Camden.

Public Service Electric was called by Chief Burnett to secure the power lines that were attached to the damaged utility poles. None of the power lines from the damaged poles fell to the ground. Fire Police assisted with traffic control since one lane of Route 130 was closed because of the accident. Fire units from Beverly were called to the scene due to Engine 1613 being sent to another incident in Willingboro. All units were cleared from the scene at 4:02 pm.