On Monday, April 7, 2008 at 12:01 AM, 8 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Helicopter, 1 LAFD Tractor Transport, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 55 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief Randy Beaty, responded to a Traffic Collision with LAFD Involvement near the intersection of Temescal Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway in the Pacific Palisades area.

Los Angeles Firefighters were reportedly transporting a seriously ill 83 year-old male to an area hospital with the emergency warning equipment on their ambulance activated, when their vehicle was struck by a compact sedan.

The 23 year-old female driver and sole occupant of the sedan was briefly trapped before Firefighters using hydraulic power tools freed her from the wreckage. She was subsequently transported to the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood by LAFD Air Ambulance in critical condition.

The ill octogenarian in the ambulance at the time of impact was swiftly transferred to another LAFD ambulance for ground-based transportation to the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood. He sustained no obvious injury in the impact, and his medical condition was not exacerbated by the collision.

The four Firefighters aboard the ambulance when the collision occurred sustained significant but non-life threatening injury. They were taken to St. John's Medical Center in Santa Monica, where all were treated and released by noon.

Pursuant of protocol, the collision is being formally investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.


(photos) (video)


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department