On January 11, 2007, at approximately 12:00 am Prince George’s County Public Safety Communications dispatched an auto accident in the 500 block of Larchmont Avenue. Engine 52, Paramedic Ambulance 5, Rescue Squad 8, Medic 46, EMS 1 and Battalion Chief 1 were alerted to the call.
Initial reports were for a single vehicle accident with people trapped inside the smoking vehicle. Additional reports confirmed that the car was on fire and there were multiple people trapped inside.
Prior to the arrival of Engine 52 and Paramedic Ambulance 5, citizens pulled a total of four victims from the burning vehicle. It is reported that as many as ten Capitol Heights citizens aided in removing the injured passengers from the vehicle before the passenger compartment caught fire.
The fire was extinguished and the initial dispatch units initiated patient care. Additional EMS resources were also requested, bringing Ambulances 179, 229, and 299 to the scene to help with treatment and transport of patients.
Four patients were transported to area Trauma Centers. One Good Samaritan was also transported to an area hospital after suffering a minor injury during the rescue.
The crash is currently under investigation by Prince George’s County Police.