3 Hospitalized After Serious Crash In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Three people were hospitalized after a serious crash that temporarily closed Black Rock Turnpike Wednesday night in Fairfield. Firefighters extricated the driver of an overturned pickup truck, who was knocked unconscious in the crash, and the two occupants of a heavily damaged SUV. All were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to fire officials.

Emergency crews responded to the area of 4680 Black Rock Turnpike at about 10:20 p.m. and found an SUV with two victims trapped inside and a pickup truck on its side with the driver unconscious and unresponsive, fire officials said.

“E5 arrived on scene and Lt. Jay Swindon established command,” officials wrote in a news release. “He directed the crew of Ladder 2, Firefighters Brian Madia, Matt Striebe, and Jeff Denitto to gain access to the unconscious victim in the pickup truck. Firefighter Madia used a rescue saw to remove the front windshield while FF. Striebe crawled in the back window of crew cab pickup. Together they opened the airway and stabilized the driver. With the help of FF. Denitto and the Medic Crew from AMR they quickly and safely removed the driver from the vehicle and transported to the Hospital by AMR.

“When Rescue 1 arrived on scene Lt. Swindon directed FF. Rich Carlo, Frank Zwierlein, and Jordan Charney to utilize hydraulic rescue tools and rescue the occupants of the second vehicle, two women. Rescue 1 was assisted by firefighters from Engine 2 and Engine 5. Both victims were assisted by medic crews form AMR and transported to the hospital with non-life threating injuries.”

Firefighters and police officers then used thermal imaging cameras to search the wooded area along Black Rock Turnpike for additional victims that may have been thrown out of the overturned pickup truck. No additional victims were found.

“Firefighters, police officers, and the medics from AMR did an excellent job quickly working together at the accident scene, providing emergency medical treatment, rapid extrication from an overturned vehicle and a heavily damaged SUV, and rapid transport to the hospital,” Assistant Fire Chief George Gomola said. “This was a job well done by all first responders.”