I-59 MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH REQUIRING EXTRICATION

PEARL RIVER, LA – At approximately 2:08 PM, St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11 (Pearl River) was dispatched to a single motor vehicle crash on I-59 north bound just north of exit 3. While en route, the Pearl River Police Department arrived on scene and confirmed that extrication would be needed to remove the patient due to the extent of the damage to the vehicle. St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 1 (Slidell) Rescue 11 (Rescue Truck) was immediately requested for mutual aid to assist with the extensive extrication. St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11 (Pearl River) arrived on scene, found a single vehicle in the tree line and initiated patient care and extrication. During the process of extrication, Acadian Air Med (Air Ambulance) was requested to transport the patient to the University Trauma Center in New Orleans. St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 1 (Slidell) Rescue 11 (Rescue Truck) arrived on scene and continued to assist with the extrication. After an approximate 25 minute extrication, the patient was removed from the vehicle and full patient care was rendered. Acadian Air Med arrived on scene and landed on I-59 to await the patient to be loaded. Traffic on I-59 was stalled for a short time while the helicopter was landing and awaiting the patient to be loaded. The patient was then loaded into Air Med and transported. Air Med was diverted to Ochsner Northshore in Slidell, LA as deemed necessary by the flight paramedic. Only one patient and one vehicle was involved in the crash. The Pearl River Police Department was handling the investigation and the condition of the patient is unknown at this time. Photos from St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11 (Pearl River) and courtesy of St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 1 (Slidell) UPDATE: 12/1/14 - The Pearl River Police Department has confirmed that the patient involved in the crash on Sunday, November 30, 2014 did succumb to the injuries from the accident and passed away. No further information will be available on behalf of St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11 as the Pearl River Police Department continues to investigate the exact cause of the accident.