PRESS RELEASE – January 16, 2021

Menlo Park Fire Protection District

 

Three reported teenagers injured in a roll-over vehicle accident - One was ejected while the other two had to be extricated by firefighters using the Jaws of Life

 


 

Pictured above – Menlo Park Firefighter/Paramedics attend to a teenager who was ejected from a vehicle after it apparently struck a light pole and rolled over  - Credit Menlo Fire

Sharon Hills Park - San Mateo County Public Safety Communications Center (PSC) received a 911 emergency call transfer from Menlo Park Police at 12:58 pm with a caller reporting that three teens in an SUV had rolled over on Valparaiso and Altschul Avenues.

Menlo Engine 4 arrived on scene at 1:01 pm and Captain/Paramedic Mike Stahl reported that “they had a single vehicle roll over with two people trapped inside the vehicle and a third that had been ejected who was laying in the street near a sheered off light standard”.


 

At 1:03 pm Captain Stahl called for a level 1 multi-casualty incident (MCI) which added one more Fire Engine (Menlo E3), three ambulances and a Field Supervisor. Stanford Hospitals Trauma Center was notified and advised they could accept all three patients.


 

Menlo Truck 1, along with Battalion Chief Dan Coyle, arrived on scene at 1:07 pm. Chief Coyle took over incident command and directed the Truck crew to first stabilize the upside down vehicle and use the Jaws of Life to open it up so the two patients inside could safely be extricated and removed from the car. This was accomplished by 1:20 pm.


 

Each of the three injured patients was then loaded into awaiting American Medical Response (AMR) and/or Woodside Fire Protection District ambulances. Menlo Park Firefighter/Paramedics accompanied each patient to Stanford Hospital.

The San Mateo County Sheriffs Department, Menlo Park Police Department and California Highway Patrol all responded and assisted with this incident, initially helping firefighters with patient care, scene control and finally taking over the scene and starting their investigation as the lead agency (SO) tasked with finding out what had occurred.

Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “This small section of Valparaiso runs between Altschul Avenue and Hallmark Circle through what is known as Sharon Hills Park. It is a significantly steep section of road for this area that slightly winds about with some pedestrian traffic at times. The vehicle appears to have been coming down the hill, striking the light standard (pole) and then rolling over. Fire Station 4 is located just down the street and arrived on-scene two minutes after being dispatched. These three individuals all sustained significant injuries and anytime our Firefighter/Paramedics ride into the hospital with a patient, it speaks to the severity of the emergency and need to provide the highest and most consistent level of care possible, in order to try and save a life”.

 

 

For more information from the Fire District please go to our web-site at www@menlofire.org: or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Next Door

 

Please contact me with any questions.

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