At approximately 4 p.m. Sunday, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) units responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision on Okeechobee Rd. NW 121 Street. Upon arrival, units found what appeared to be an impressive collision involving two trucks. Immediately noticeable was the fact that one of the occupants had been ejected from one of the vehicles and a few others were trapped in the wreckage. Fire Command Officers summoned additional companies for assistance and declared the situation a multiple casualty incident involving a total of seven patients, all males. Adding to the complexity of the incident was a leak of approximately 50 gallons of diesel fuel from one of the trucks, which was mitigated by MDFR’s Hazardous Materials unit.
MDFR firefighter/paramedics immediately began to render treatment to all patients while other crews worked feverishly utilizing specialized extrication tools and equipment (Jaws of Life) in order to rapidly extricate the trapped occupants from the wreckage. Three of the seven patients were deemed in serious condition and were rapidly transported to the trauma center utilizing both MDFR Air Rescue helicopters. The other four patients were transported to local hospitals. Approximately 30 MDFR firefighter/paramedics responded to this incident.