Three people narrowly escaped serious injuries or worse following a two-vehicle crash at a busy Penhold intersection last week.
Local firefighters were dispatched to the intersection of Waskasoo Avenue and Hawkridge Boulevard in front of the Penhold Regional Multiplex at 5:45 p.m. on March 4. Several of them were already deployed at a Bouteiller Close residence investigating a gas leak.
Fire Chief Jim Pendergast said nine firefighters from several units immediately responded, along with RCMP, EMS and Penhold peace officers.
“I got on scene first and there was a lot of damage with car pieces in the middle of the intersection,” said Pendergast of the crash scene. “It was a mess and a little bit chaotic. Some bystanders had stopped to help.
“One vehicle was off the road and had gone through the stop sign and into the field on the southside of Hawkridge and west side of Waskasoo,” he added.
He said some of the injured from the crash were outside their vehicles and they were quickly treated by fire crews until EMS arrived.
“They were young, like in there 20s and two of the injured were young girls,” said Pendergast. “One woman had a head injury. In the other vehicle there was a woman with a head injury. When EMS arrived they checked them out and treated them for about a half hour or so but all refused transport to the hospital.”
Pendergast said both vehicles sustained significant front-end damage with one car having both front airbags deployed.
“The airbags and seatbelts certainly prevented more serious injuries,” he said.
Pendergast said traffic along both streets was closed off for about an hour while police conducted its investigation of the crash and debris was cleaned up.
Meanwhile, firefighters determined there was no gas leak at the Bouteiller Close residence and the house was pronounced safe shortly after for residents to return.
“Being able to handle two serious events at the same time is rare but is something we are trained and equipped to do,” said Pendergast.
