Bus Collision Sends 25 to the Hospital
A bus crossed the freeway divider and collided with a passenger vehicle, sending 25 patients to the hospital.
At 1:00pm on October 14, 2018 the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a reported collision on the southbound 405 Freeway at Nordhoff. Incidents on a freeway are extremely dangerous to not only those involved but to first responders and bystanders. Upon arrival, firefighters found debris strewn across both sides of the freeway, causing an immediate full closure.
Incident Commander, Captain II (Acting Battalion Chief) Roy Page requested additional resources and initiated the Multi-Casualty Incident (MCI) Command System. This organizational system facilitates the efficient, coordinated treatment / transport of patients to surrounding medical facilities. The first arriving LAFD Ambulance will open radio communications with the Medical Alert Center (MAC) to determine which hospitals will be receiving patients, how many and their corresponding conditions. This must be closely coordinated because a hospital's resources can be quickly overwhelmed if an unexpected, large number of patients arrive.
An incident of this scale requires focused teamwork to ensure all patients are located, bystanders are safely isolated and traffic is controlled. The California Highway Patrol was a vital partner on this scene and they ensured the incident was handled without any further injuries to those remaining on the freeway.