Video Shortened from 3 hours to 90 minutes
On October 29th, 2020, Glennallen EMS along with GlennRich Volunteer Fire Department, the Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Department of Transportation were dispatched to the report of a tractor trailer Motor Vehicle Crash with injuries at Mile 140.5 of the Glenn Highway.
Enroute, MatComm advised that the patient had lost consciousness. The trailer had also separated from the tractor. The GlennRich fire chief arrived on scene and advised confinement, and that he was going to put the tool to work.
EMS assisted with popping the door and removed a patient suffering from critical injuries. Air medical was requested, and EMS began transport to the Gulkana Airport (PAGK). Enroute to the airport, EMS was advised that no fixed wing aircraft was available, and that helicopter EMS was also unavailable due to weather.
EMS paused while the local doctor called air medical, and then advised that a fixed wing was diverted from another mission. EMS resumed transport. Enroute again to the airport, the fixed wing aircraft stated that they could not land due to weather, so EMS diverted to the local medical clinic, however as soon as EMS arrived, the aircraft radioed that they were able to land. EMS again resumed transport to the airport and transferred care to the air medical team.
According to the driver of the truck, another vehicle was coming directly in the lane of travel. The driver swerved to avoid a head-on collision, running off the road for about 350-400 feet before stopping, with the trailer full of scrap metal, disconnecting.
Glennallen EMS was a division of Delta Medical Transport based in Delta Junction, Alaska. GEMS disbanded on June 30th, 2024.
GEMS covered approximately 25,000 square miles first due with 1 paramedic unit.
Distance from the ambulance station to the crash was 47 miles. Transport to the airport was 52 miles. Distance to closest Trauma Center is approximately 143 miles from the scene.