On Tuesday, January 22nd at 08:36 the Esopus Fire Department and Town of Esopus Volunteer Ambulance Squad were dispatched to a report of a multi-vehicle accident with injuries and entrapment at the intersection of Route 9W and Ulster Ave. The first arriving unit was on the scene within minutes and found motor vehicle accident involving a car, an SUV and a van with one person heavily entrapped. Firefighters deployed extrication tools often referred to as the “Jaws of Life” and had the entrapped patient freed within twenty minutes. Mutual Aid ambulances were requested to assist with eight total patients. A medevac helicopter was requested but later cancelled due to an extended ETA. Six patients were transported to Vassar Brothers Medical Center and one patient was transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center in Poughkeepsie by Esopus Ambulance and Mobile Life Support Services. Route 9W remained closed for approximately an hour and a half.
Esopus Firefighters were assisted by the Town of Esopus Volunteer Ambulance Squad, Highland Hose Company, Port Ewen Fire Dept, Rifton Fire Dept, Mobile Life Support, New Paltz Rescue, NDP EMS, Ulster County Emergency Services, Ulster County DPW, NYS DOT, Ulster County Sherriff’s Office, New York State Fire and the New York State Police.