Poor visibility and heavy snowfall led to a series of accidents on Interstate 90, forcing the interstate to be closed in several spots.  Some of the Interstate closures were for several hours at a time.

Perry Hiway Hose Co, responded to reports of multiple accidents on the interstate between three exits.  Chief 420 established a command post at I-90 & Rt 97 at the Shell Gas Station.  Command coordinated efforts to assist motorists as well as check on the status of multiple vehicle accidents.  Fire department units from Kuhl Hose, McKean, and Brookside were put on standby while the initial report of accidents and locations were gathered.  Emergycare's Mule ATV was used as well as the Wales Snow Drifters Snowmobile Club to help with initial recon of the interstate where ambulances and other rescue vehicles were unable to get easily, their assignment was to check and report the need for fire and EMS units. 

Kuhl Hose was dispatched from the commander to send an ambulance to mile marker 25 for a multi patient accident.  While enroute they came upon the most serious of the days accidents. It happened in the westbound lanes of I-90 at the Lake Pleasant Road overpass, where a box truck ran into the back end of a Semi. There was a third vehicle involved that ran into the back of the box truck.

The driver of the box truck was pinned behind the steering wheel and dash.  Crews from Kuhl Hose, Belle Valley, and Perry Hiway used rescue tools to extricate the patient from the wrecked box truck.  Kuhl Hose EMS along with Emergycare and MPS paramedics treated and transported the patient to Hamot Shock Trauma.  There were a total of 9 patients transported to area hospitals from the Interstate accidents.  The Pennsylvania State Police are investigatng.

Units on Scene:

Command 680  

Safety -  Car #35 

Operations  361

Rescue 38, 74, & 683

EMS 697, 28 & M99 E3