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On Saturday afternoon the Adams Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a rollover on Interstate Route 81.

Upon arrival Adams Assistant Chief Brian Berkey, reported to dispatch and incoming units, confirming a rollover with two people injured and trapped in the vehicle. The vehicle was on its side, with the roof of the vehicle up against a tree.

Adams Chief Stephen Rexford assumed command upon his arrival. Chief Rexford requested Adams Engine 2 to set up a safety zone and close one lane with traffic cones and flares. Weather conditions were very bad, traffic was fairly heavy.

Adams Heavy Rescue arrived and firefighters stabilized the vehicle with the rescue struts, recently purchased. The extrication was led by senior firefighter Captain Robert Simpson, while command remained located at the top of embankment.

South Jefferson Rescue Squad arrived with two ambulances. The extrication was tough and tricky as the roof of the vehicle was crushed onto the two subjects. A request was made for a helicopter, but it was unable to fly due to weather. The rear portion of the vehicle roof was removed to allow access to the patients for EMS personnel.

Once the patients were stabilized by EMS personnel from South Jefferson Rescue Squad. The firefighters used a combination of rescue tools to completely remove the roof of the vehicle. This allowed the driver, whose injuries were minor, to be removed from the vehicle and allowing for extrication of the passenger, whose leg was tangled in the passenger door window frame. Both patients were transported by South Jefferson Rescue Squad to a Syracuse Hospital.

Extrication times were 22 minutes for the driver and 30 minutes for the passenger. The extrication went very well and communications between dispatch, the fire department, the Rescue Squad and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department was excellent.