04-08-2013 Van Wreck Injures 12

The wreck occurred around 8:15 a.m. at the intersection of Hickory Valley Road and Standifer Gap Road. Eyewitnesses told Chattanooga police that a man driving a white van ran through a red light, colliding with a white passenger van operated by Serenity Adult Day Care. The van was on its side and the driver and his passengers could not get out on their own.

The Chattanooga Fire Department responded with two squad trucks, which are specially equipped for car wrecks and other rescue incidents, and two other fire apparatus. Battalion Chief Fredrick Blake said the firefighters first used their special equipment to stabilize the vehicle. Then they were able to get some of the victims out through the van's back door. Chief Blake said they had to cut away the front windshield and part of the top of the van to get the victims in the front out.

Hamilton County EMS personnel were also there in force. Working with Chattanooga firefighters, the victims were carefully pulled out of the van, placed on backboards, and readied for transport. Lt. Tony Sylvester with EMS said six ambulances were used to transport the driver and 11 passengers to Erlanger Medical Center, Erlanger East and Parkridge Medical Center. Lt. Sylvester said the condition of the patients would be assessed at the hospitals.

Chattanooga police are still investigating the cause of the accident.

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