Heads Up!

One of the things I try to do in this job is arrive at active scenes quickly. You get the best video that way, like the fireman rushing into a burning building to save a kitty cat, or someone who was helplessly trapped in a well being pulled to safety.

After all, if you aren't going to get on scene soon enough to get lots of flashing lights, why bother going?

Sunday I was dispatched (by myself) to a rollover accident on the Red Rock Loop (NV S.R. 159). I actually had another story I was supposed to shoot at Mandalay Bay at 6 (I really, really hate it when they schedule me stuff to do because something ALWAYS happens, then they get mad at me for not getting it!) so I was sitting on the rollover, since it was a long drive.

Editors Note: When I say I'm sitting on a call, it means that I have my scanner locked down to the channel waiting for emergency personal to arrive. Once there, they give a status report. I use that to determine whether or not I need to respond. Some of the people at my station wonder how I choose which calls to sit on and which ones to roll on ASAP. It's hard to explain, as I have a 'gift' when it comes to listening to scanners, but I know which ones.

Before NHP and EMS arrived the Clark County Fire dispatcher advised the fire trucks that OnStar had someone on the phone who said that he was trapped in the vehicle. He also stated that the other person in the vehicle didn't have a pulse.

CCFD dispatched Heavy Rescue 21 and another engine unit. Along with Engine 80, Engine 34 and Rescue 28 already en route.

No more sitting, time to roll.

The nice thing about 5:30 AM Sunday morning is that you can still get anywhere quick. The highways weren't too bad clogged. Plus I got a bonus when I exited on Rainbow at 215. I saw the Heavy behind me about 1/4 of a mile.

I pull over (as anyone should do where there is a fire truck behind them) and allow the Heavy to pass. I then follow him - staying the law required 500 feet back - to the scene. The enjoyable part is that people are pulling over for the fire truck and are STAYING pulled over till I pass. Made me feel a little special.

After about 20 minutes we arrive on scene. I stop about 1,500 feet away from the scene. I had heard Engine 80 demanding Mercy Air (the EMS helo) to come to the scene so I didn't want my truck to be in the way. I get out and see the fire fighters setting up an LZ.

The trapped person had managed to get out of the vehicle - either with the help of NHP or FD - so there would be no extraction. Because of that I stayed back. I knew this was probably a fatal so I was going to be kicked out anyway, so why bother walking all that way.

A fireman walked up to me and says 'Head up, dude!'

I look up and see the chopper coming over the mountains. I turn back to him and say 'Am I in your LZ?'

He nods.

I quickly throw my gear back into my live unit and floor it into reverse. I back up another 500 feet, past where he was setting up flares, jump back out and get some (if I do say so myself) really awesome helicopter video. (I love helicopters.)

The end result was sad. One 25 year old lady died. NHP told me that it was a very violent wreck and the scene was 'very graphic'. Her passenger, a man, was airlifted to the hospital with what were called 'extensive injuries'.

Alcohol was a factor in the crash. And of course, what causes every wreck on SR 159, speed. They said the car was going in excess of 90 MPH.

The arrow on the map shows the approximate location of the crash. The car took that curve at that speed, left the road, hit a cattle guard and flipped end over end twice. Hopefully this will get some people to slow down, but I doubt it.

Map stolen from US Department of Trasnportation.