EMFD responds to devastating car crash

Posted

At 11:43 am, pagers alerted for Engine 1, Ladder 617, and Rescues 4, and 5 for a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of East Meadow Avenue and Nostrand Avenue.

Four minutes later, Third Assistant Chief Paul Kosiba radioed his response. He was immediately followed by Engine 611 and Ladder 617. Both companies arrived within 30 seconds of their departure.

Firefighters stepping off theirs rigs were confronted with a widespread area of destruction as two vehicles collided, one of which struck a storefront at Cole Drive.

A block away at Nostrand Ave, the second vehicle came to rest.

Along the way a path of destruction a downed street sign poll, a downed light post, a damaged parked vehicle, a damaged motorcycle, and steel anchor cables for a telephone poll littered the sidewalk.

With a Nassau County Police Department patrol car and ambulance arriving just prior, both agencies sized up the scene, and a coordinated effort to bring the situation under control was underway, as Third Assistant Chief Paul Kosiba arrived and assumed command.

With the NCPD medical technician now treating the person to the first vehicle, firefighters moved down the road to the second nearly a block away, to render aid.

The balance of responders worked to make the scene safe, while other checked to be sure no pedestrians were struck in the process.

A few minutes later one more NCPD ambulance arrived on the scene and took over patient care of the second vehicle.

Damage the storefront was extensive, prompting Asst Chief Kosiba to request the North Bellmore Fire Department Technical Rescue Team for any shoring needs, as well as the Town of Hempstead Building Department to the make those determinations.

The Emergency Ambulance Bureau of the Nassau County Police transported to two motorists to the Nassau University Medical Center one patient with chest pain, and one for evaluation.

East Meadow volunteers secured the area and left the investigation to the Nassau County Police. In all, 23 volunteers responded to the incident with all units returned to quarters by 1:23 p.m.

John J. O'Brien is an active Ex Chief of the East Meadow Fire Department. He is the District Supervisor of the Jericho Fire District and has over 30 years of Dispatch and Supervisory experience.