On 8/18/24 at approximately 4:31pm, Yorktown Fire with Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps Inc. and Empress Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to the Taconic Northbound for an MVA with extrication.
Rescue 16 and Rescue-Engine 270 initially took in the assignment.
Upon arriving on scene, it was determined there was a multi-vehicle MVA with two overturned vehicles located approximately 100’ off the roadway, down and into swift water. Due to the heavy rain that had just finished passing through, what is normally a small stream had turned into a swift water scenario. Swift Water was initially observed by FD personnel to be about 1/3 way up the overturned cars, spanning approximately 20’ and moving at about 5 knots, more than enough to knock an individual off their feet.
One patient was found on the highway side of the incident was immediately treated by EMS, and two patients had self-extricated from their vehicles but were located on the other side of side of the swift water.
The initial rescue plan of setting up a rope high line and ferrying rescuers and victims back and forth across the swift water was put into motion.
Water Rescue 55, Ladder 51, and Mohegan VAC for two additional ambulances were called to the scene.
As rescuers were finalizing setting up the high line it was observed that due to the rain stopping, the swift water was beginning to recede and slow down. An operational decision was made to drop a 24’ extension ladder across the moving water, have the victims walk across the ladder, and to use the high line as a safety belay.
Both victims were removed from the incident and placed into the care of EMS in 20 minutes.
All 3 patients were transported to an area Trauma center. YHFD cleared the scene after the vehicles were removed by the tow company without further incident.

🚨The YHFD is actively seeking highly motivated individuals to join us as one of the busiest 100% Volunteer Fire District’s in Westchester County. We are currently accepting applications until September 1st‼️
Click on the link below to apply today‼️
https://www.yorktownfire.org/content/recruit/
*note: all pictures taken were after the water had begun to recede.