Jan. 3 A Busy Morning At Central Dispatch

Following are excerpts from the 911 tape of Sunday morning, Jan. 3, in the moments just after the accident:

State police dispatch: We need rescue up there ... not sure exactly what we've got, but several tractor trailers and vehicles involved [on interstate 81 ].

Central dispatch: it's north 81 at what milepost?

State Police: Between 184 and 185.
Tone is triggered by central dispatch for Glasgow Rescue Squad and Natural Bridge Volunteer Fire Department at 8:16 am

Central: Attention, all Glasgow Rescue Squad members ... Company 11 ... we have a report of a 10-50 [motor vehicle accident] PI [Personal injuries] ... Interstate 81, mile marker 184 northbound ... repeating ... 10-50 ... Pl ... 1-81, mile marker 184 northbound.

State Police: We need at least three rescue units.

Central: Three rescue units? How many injuries? Do you know?

State police: Okay, we have one fatality ... I don't know ... we've got a mess up there with several tractor trailers up there.

Central: I'll let her know [referring to fellow central dispatcher loading information into computer-assisted dispatch system].
Tone is triggered for Lexington Fire Department and Lexington Lifesaving and First Aid Crew at 8:18 am.

Central: Attention, Lexington Rescue, Lexington Company 9. We have a report of a 10-50 . . PI.. interstate 81, mile marker 184 northbound. We have several vehicles involved. Glasgow Rescue and Natural Bridge Fire have been toned ... more assistance is needed. Central Dispatch 08:18.

Lexington Rescue 19 [Zollman and Potter]: Rescue 19 to central dispatch.

Central: Rescue 19, go ahead.

Lexington Rescue 19: We're 10-23 [on the scene of the accident].

Central: Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you. Chief 9, go ahead.

Lexington Fire Chief 9: 10-23.

Central: 10-4, Chief 9.

Buena Vista Rescue: Central, how many units you got responding?

Central: Multiple, I'd say.

Stonewall Jackson Hospital: Emergency room to Rescue 19.

Natural Bridge Fire: Rescue 11 to Central.

Central: Rescue 11, go ahead.

Natural Bridge Fire: Cars turning around to get off. Please advise anybody else coming to this wreck: there are cars going the wrong way.

Stonewall Jackson Hospital: ER to central dispatch.

Central: Stonewall Jackson Hospital ER, go ahead.

Stonewall Jackson Hospital: Please get the squads to give us a head count and an update on patients as soon as they can.

Central: 10-4.

Glasgow Rescue 47: Central, we're on the scene. Road's completely blocked ... tractor trailer across the road.

Buena Vista Rescue 206: Lexington 125, what've you got?

Lexington Rescue 125 [from the north side]: There is entrapment (they then discussed extrication equipment available and needed at the scene).

Glasgow Rescue 47 [from the south side]: We've got some entrapment here ... Expedite.

Natural Bridge Fire [from the south side]: Engine 11 to Company 11.. nothing but a sheet of ice ... rescue 11 on the scene.

Central: 10-4 rescue 11, on the scene.

Lexington Fire: Engine 9 to central.

Central: Engine 9, go ahead.

Lexington Fire [from the north side]: Advise state police that a truck is jackknifed and has road blocked at 185.

Glasgow Rescue: Glasgow 346 [Damon Woody] reports to all units going down the hill ... he advised bridge is solid ice ... there are multiple injuries.

Lexington Rescue: 114 to 125 .. be advised we have entrapment times six in two vehicles.

Lexington Fire Chief 9: Engine 9, call central ... tell them to put us second alarm for company 9 .. we need the HAZMAT [hazardous materials] unit on the scene and have company 10 (Buena Vista Fire Department) fill the station.
Tone goes off for HAZMAT Unit.

Central: Clear at 0836.

Glasgow Rescue: Solid ice ... we have a big mess here.

Glasgow Rescue at scene to Buena Vista Rescue: Be advised we have multiple tractor trailers ... multiple cars - entrapment ... we are going to need any manpower you can spare.

Lexington Engine 9: Central ... we're 10-23 at 08:38.

Lexington Rescue 125 to Lexington Rescue on scene: Check your total number of patients.
Call comes in to central dispatch reporting wreck at I-81, mile marker 204.

Lexington Rescue 125 at scene: There's a lot of debris .... northbound is completely blocked .. . looks like a disaster area.
State police call in another wreck at mile marker 180. Central calls for Buchanan Rescue.

Lexington Fire to Patient Transport Systems: There's an awful lot of diesel here ... we could sure use your assistance medically ... Trent, take your time.
Central informs accident scene that Lexington Public Works has cleared the roads into Stonewall Jackson Hospital at 8:48 am

Lexington Fire: Chief 9-1 to central ... call and see if Pegasus and Lifeguard 10 can fly.

Buena Vista Fire: Buena Vista engine to stand by at Lexington
Central confirms that both helicopters can fly.

Glasgow Rescue: We want Lifeguard 10 straight to the scene ... have them land at top of the hill on the north side.

Central Dispatch can be reached at, dispatch@cfw.com