At approximately 8:00 AM the Nanuet FD was alerted to a request for extrication on the Palisades Parkway Northbound just south of exit 10. The initial dispatch came directly from our dispatchers thanks to the timing of a passing Chief on his way to teach at the Fire Training Center.

Upon arrival the 8-EQ lead by Captain Bill Schoenleber and Assistant Chauffeur Mike Kubasek and assisted by Mike Healy (2-1 Central Nyack Chief) assessed the seriousness of the incident and determined the best course of action to begin extricating the lone occupant. Once Nanuet Ambulance and Rockland paramedics arrived on scene they immediately requested that the Stat-Flight Helicopter land and transport the occupant to a trauma center.

The driver of car was trapped between the center console which was crushed by a tree from the passengers side and the drivers door, complicating the extrication was the victims legs were pressed and trapped under the steering wheel and dashboard. These factors made this a very difficult extrication and required removing both doors on the drivers side and rolling the dash. Rolling the dash involves cutting and spreading towards the hinges of the drivers door to create more room to remove the trapped party. These type of extrication techniques require multiple hydraulic tools from cutters to spreaders and sometimes involve using chains.

The victim was removed from the car after about 30 minutes which gave enough time for the New City Fire Department (Dept 9) to assist and setup a landing zone for Stat-Flight right on the parkway. The victim was then transported via helicopter to Westchester Medical center for treatment.

The parkway would remain closed for about 2 hours while the state police conducted their accident investigation, and all units returned to quarters by 9:30