Atherton: Minor injuries in Sunday morning crash that sheared off power pole

I hope these men survive and I hope the newspaper reports on what caused such a serious single car collision. We cannot reduce road violence without understanding what caused these collisions.

Well done MPFPD and well done PG&E.

And great that the two organizations work so well together - that did not just happen by chance.

MENLO FIRE - PRESS RELEASE (Photographs were sent to the Almanac)

BREAKING NEWS - APRIL 22, 2018

Menlo Park Fire Protection District - Dramatic Auto extrication in Atherton early Sunday morning shuts down power to many areas of the Town as car shears off power pole trapping two victims inside the vehicle:

Menlo Park Firefighters were dispatched at 3.32 AM early Sunday morning, April 22, 2018, after San Mateo County Public Safety Communications (PSC) received a 911 cell caller reporting that they had heard what sounded like a significant vehicle accident in front of 240 Camino Al Lago, in the Town of Atherton.

Menlo Engine 4 with Acting Captain Mike Lemos arrived on-scene at 3.37 AM and reported that a vehicle was on its side pinned against a tree with two victims trapped inside. The vehicle had sheared off a power pole and live electrical wires were resting on the vehicle, sparking and arcing from a transformer located on the severely damaged power pole.

Two Fire Engines, Ladder Truck and Battalion Chief we’re deployed to the incident for a total of 11 Menlo Fire Personnel. The Engine crews were assigned to patient care, deploying protective hose lines and securing the power lines while the Truck crew was assigned to vehicle stabilization and auto extrication.

After assessing the situation, Firefighters were unable to secure or remove the power lines from a blue Lexus four door Sedan, hindering the access to two male patients in their twenties, both were conscious and talking to Firefighters.

PG&E was requested, but gave up to a 45 minute response time. Battalion Chief Dan Coyle explained the severity of the situation and it was decided that the local power grid to portions of Atherton and West Menlo Park would need to be completely shut down and de-energized before Firefighters could safely gain access to the two victims who were trapped inside the vehicle.

At 4.10 AM PG&E advised and confirmed that they had completely shut down the power grid to the local area and that the power lines should be de-energized. Firefighters checked for back feeding from any local backup generators or other sources using special handheld energy sensors but none was noted and the vehicle extrication efforts began in earnest.

Truck Captain Steve Susa directed his crew to use adjustable struts and cribbing to first secure and stabilize the Lexus so it could not tip back over. Using the “Jaws of Life” and reciprocal saws, Firefighters carefully worked between the tree, sheared off and splintered power pole and the Lexus to cut apart the vehicle from around the two victims in-order to extricate the trapped men.

The carefully handled auto extrication took another twenty five minutes and both freed patients were then transported to Stanford Trauma Center on two AMR Advanced Life Support Ambulances after being treated by Firefighter Paramedics at 4.35 AM.

PG&E electrical personnel arrived at the scene at 4.44 AM. The vehicle needed to be removed and power pole, transformer and lines repaired and replaced, before power could be restored to the local area.

Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “this is the type of high stakes emergency response and technical rescues our personnel constantly train for. It was unfortunate that the power had to be shut down so widely, but in order to safely extricate these two young men, there was no other way to ensure their safety and that of the firefighters, who needed to gain access to them under extremely dangerous circumstances”.

Firefighters remained on-scene picking up their equipment until 5 AM. For additional accident information please contact the Atherton Police Department.

Here are the photos:
Web Link

[Post removed; don't speculate on the cause of an accident under investigation.]

Another great job by Menlo Park Fire. What are the $$$$$ costs of human life Atherton Town council. Withdraw from Menlo Fire, when they provide this type of service to our community. Stop spending tax payers funds on these pipe dreams!!!!

[Post removed; the accident is under investigation - don't speculate on the cause or the details]

Hopefully the Atherton Mayor will realize that the tools used to extricate these two people were some of the things he called "toys" at the 21 Feb Council meeting.

Some of the questions raised above are addressed in this updated story:

Web Link