STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-February 21, 2023-Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue (SSFR) was dispatched at 4:12pm to Highway 40/Lincoln Avenue adjacent to Dream Island Trailer Park for a two-vehicle, head-on accident involving three individuals on Sunday, February 19, 2023.
SSFR Rescue responded with the entire on-duty crew (9 firefighters) consisting of three ambulances (6-2, 6-3, 6-4), Engine 6-2 and Chief on Call Doug Shaffer (Staff 6-3). Upon arrival, responders found that a full-size truck and a sedan were involved in a head on collision. The sedan sustained heavy damage with the trapped driver requiring extrication. The sedan driver was considered the most critical and the ambulance 6-2 crew focused on that patient.
The second ambulance crew, Ambulance 6-3, took out the Sawzall reciprocating saw and started cutting out the quarter panel from the truck that had pierced the windshield of the sedan near the sedan patient’s head.
Engine 6-2 and Ambulance 6-4 arrived from the Mountain Station and crews aided Ambulance 6-3 with heavy extrication equipment, jaws of life, to cut the sedan away from the patient. Ambulance 6-4 evaluated the occupants of the truck who suffered minor injuries and ultimately transported one patient to the hospital.
The occupant of the sedan, who required significant extrication, was removed from the vehicle, and transported to the hospital 46 minutes after Ambulance 6-2 first arrived on scene. The patient was considered to have critical injuries and was transported to UC Health at Yampa Valley Medical Center.
Due to the incident, Highway 40 was closed in both directions between Elk River Road and 13th Street for approximately two-hours. The cause of the accident is under investigation by Colorado State Patrol.
SSFR thanks Routt County Communication Center, Steamboat Springs Police Department, and Colorado State Patrol for their assistance.
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Contact
Doug Shaffer, Fire Marshal, 970.879.7170, or email
Chris Welch, Lieutenant, 970.879.7170 or email
Michael Lane, Communications Manager, 970.871.8220 or email