On Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 1:40 PM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team and DOT, all under the direction of Battalion Chief John Potter responded to a VEHIC at 8300 N. Havenhurst Av in the Van Nuys area.

Responding Fire Department resources, arrived on scene to find a tractor with trailer and 2 smaller delivery trucks which had collided in the intersection of Havenhurst Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard. Further triaging of the incident, Fire resources found 2 male patients and an accompanying diesel fuel spill. A Physical Rescue assignment was requested with an Urban Search and Rescue Company (USAR 88) and Heavy Rescue 56 added to the dispatch to assist in the extrication operation.

The driver of the delivery truck experienced minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The male passenger, approximately 20 years old, was trapped from the waist down. He was extricated and transported in critical condition, with lower extremity injuries, to an area hospital. The occupants of the other vehicles had no complaints of injuries.

DOT was requested to assist with with traffic control, shutting down Roscoe Boulevard westbound traffic at Woodley and eastbound traffic at Balboa Place, for the duration of the incident. The cause of the traffic collision is under the investigation of the local police agency.

Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department