On July 11, 2004 at 3:18 p.m., units from Hughesville Fire and EMS, Waldorf EMS and the Charles County Medic Unit were alerted to Leonardtown Road and LaPlata Road for an auto accident with injuries.

As units began responding, Charles County communications relayed information that the accident was believed to be serious and possibily involved two severely injured children.

Units arrived to find a two vehicle “T-bone” collision with a total of five patients. The first ambulance on the scene initiated Maryland’s “START” triage system and quickly assessed all of the patients and their injuries. Two of the patients were in fact children (ages 4 and 6) who were determined to be “red tags” (priority 1 patients).

Chief 2B (Ed McPherson) established “Leonardtown Road Command” and requested four additional ambulances, two medic units, a medevac helicopter and had all units still responding step up their response to “priority 1.”

Maryland State Police’s Trooper 2 and U.S. Park Police’s Eagle 2 responded and medevaced the children to area trauma centers. Waldorf’s Squad 3 established a landing zone for both helicopters in a nearby field. The other three patients, who were adults, signed medical treatment and transport refusal forms.

All units were clear the scene within about 45 minutes. Traffic was affected for a longer period of time.