Saturday July, 24 2021 @ 16:56

Nature: Vehicle Accident w/Entrapment

Location: 27262 John J Williams Hwy Millsboro, DE 19966

On Saturday afternoon, July 24^th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a vehicle accident on John J. Williams Highway between Indian Summer Village and Gull Point Road.  It was reported to be three vehicles with entrapment and possibly three patients.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Rescue 80 from the Oak Orchard facility, Engine #80-1 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.  Additional emergency alerts included the Sussex County Paramedics and the Mid Sussex Rescue Squad. 

Upon initial evaluation to the situation, the incident was upgraded to a Level 1 – MCI with the possibility of 10 patients for evaluation and treatment.  Additional resources were requested from the Sussex County Paramedics, Millsboro EMS Units, and Delaware State Fire Police Units from Millsboro (83) and Rehoboth Beach (86).

Emergency response crew assignments included traffic control with complete closures of John J. Williams Highway between Gull Point Road and the area around Layton Davis Road; stabilization and preparation of vehicles for extrication where needed; assistance with patient stabilization and care pending arrival of additional resources; fluid and debris recovery; establishment of detour routes with posted fire police units for assistance; as well as overall incident mitigation activities.

It appears that a blue Chrysler Town & Country mini-van was struck in the rear by a white GMC Yukon XL and then in the front by a blue Ford SUV.  The GMC veered around and off the eastbound travel lane into a soybean field.  The mini-van came to a stop blocking the main travel lanes of John J. Williams Highway and the Ford was also off the eastbound shoulder of the roadway.  It is unknown by first responders the specific chain of events regarding this collision.  Occupants of the vehicles were transported to both Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Delaware as well as Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Maryland.

The Delaware State Fire Police units from Indian River (80), Millsboro (83), and Rehoboth Beach (86) continued to offer traffic control assistance for the duration of the incident.

The Delaware State Police are investigating.  

Additional information regarding mass casualty incidents.

MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT (MCI) LEVELS

A mass casualty incident (often shortened to MCI and sometimes called a multiple-casualty incident or multiple-casualty situation) is any incident in which emergency medical services (EMS) resources, such as personnel and equipment, are overwhelmed by the number and/or severity of casualties. Depending on the geographic area and hospitals surrounding even small numbers of patients can tax the local emergency system. In an effort to streamline processes with ensuring appropriate routing of patients involved, the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will follow the following guidelines for MCI patient distribution:

MCI Level 1

MCI Level 1 – Incident will require local resources and responding agencies. Incident may require additional resources within the region.

• Size – 5 to 10 patients

• Hospitals – notification to local hospitals in area near location of incident

• Triage – patients identified as RED, YELLOW, GREEN following START Triage guidelines and primary injury/service needed (EMS may be able to direct patients to specific area emergency departments with appropriate resources in small scale event)

• Communications – Sussex County Communication Center will assign a Tactical channel for transport operations when necessary.