On June 30, 2004 at 2:34 p.m., units from Hughesville Fire and EMS and Benedict EMS were alerted to the 8200 block of Leonardtown Road for an auto accident with injuries. Moments later, the Charles County Mobile Intensive Care Unit was alerted to the call for one patient reportedly unconscious.

First arriving Ambulance 27 found a “head-on” collision between a passenger car and a minivan where one person was trapped and multiple other patients were injured. EMS Captain Cole assumed EMS Control as Engine 23 and Car 2 arrived on the scene. Chief 2B arrived and established “Leonardtown Road Command.” Additional ambulances, medic units and medevac helicopters were requested to respond to the scene.

The trapped occupant of the passenger car was quickly extricated by Engine 23’s crew. The minivan had six occupants (one adult and five children ranging in age from 6 to 10 years old) that required treatment and transport. All five children were determined to be seriously injured and were medevaced to area trauma centers along with the seriously injured driver from the passenger car.

St. Mary’s Squad 2 (Mechanicsville) reported to the scene to provide additional emergency medical technicians to assist with patient care. The rest of St. Mary’s Squad and Benedict’s Engine 52 responded to the landing pad at Southern Maryland Electric to establish a landing zone for the three medevac helicopters.