By Michael N. Ciampo
Working alongside ma- jor expressways has made for some very interesting motor vehicle accident experiences. We all know when we're dispatched to these highway incidents that they can range from a minor fender bender to an intricate extrication. Plus, it's always amazing how many times the wrong location or direction of travel is given. Often, you arrive at the "reported" location and you don't find a thing and call and wait for the dispatcher to provide additional information.
To help locate the accident and access it on major highways, many departments have units respond in from opposite directions. This often puts the units traveling on the opposite side of the accident on scene quicker because other units are stuck in gridlock behind the accident. Although it may be dangerous to operate over the median, the first-arriving units can give a quick size-up of conditions. Of course, their initial action should be to make the scene safe for their operations. If that means reducing the lanes of travel or completely shutting down the highway to have access to all the victims, then do it! Once the situation is sized up and traffic cones and flares are in position, then the highway can be reopened to allow access through the area. Remember, it's just as important for the units parked on the opposite side to place their apparatus in a blocking pattern and have the necessary warning devices behind them also!
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