Pa. Police Officers, Firefighters Injured Saving Driver in Fiery Crash

May 22, 2022
Palmer Township police officers and firefighters used extinguishers to battle flames and forced open a door to reach an unconscious driver trapped inside a burning car.

Palmer Township police and firefighters were injured Saturday night as they battled flames to rescue a driver hurt in a two-vehicle crash.

A crash with people trapped was reported at 9:25 p.m. Saturday on Main Street, west of Vanburen Road, township police said. As emergency personnel were responding to the crash scene, township police and fire learned a male was trapped in a burning vehicle.

Emergency personnel arrived to find two vehicles involved in a head-on crash, with one male driver unconscious and trapped in a vehicle that caught fire.

Responders used fire extinguishers from their vehicles to fight the flames as others tried to get the unconscious driver out, township police said. The group was able to force open the driver’s side door and remove the driver, as crews continued fighting the car fire.

The injured driver was taken to a local trauma center in critical condition, township police said. The driver from the second vehicle had minor injuries and was also taken to a local hospital for treatment.

A police officer and firefighter were injured and taken to a local hospital, and have since been released. Three township police officers and one firefighter were also treated at the crash scene for smoke and fire extinguisher agent inhalation.

Palmer police are investigating the crash.

Anyone who saw a red Volkswagen Jetta traveling on Main Street Saturday evening or who witnessed the crash should contact township police at 610-253-5844.

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