By Cameron Dodd
Frederick News-Post
FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. — Frederick County officials on Wednesday celebrated the men who responded to a car crash that left a county school bus suspended precariously above a steep hillside in April.
The Division of Fire and Rescue Services hosted a unit citation presentation ceremony for the men of Urbana, United Steam and New Market district fire companies who assisted in the rescue.
On April 12, a crash on Interstate 270 sent a Frederick County Public Schools bus through a guardrail. A student and two district employees were trapped as the bus rested on the edge of a steep hill supported mostly by the damaged guardrail.
“It was definitely an adrenaline-inspiring event,” said Capt Robert Freeman, of United Steam Fire Engine Company. “But things kicked in, and we worked really well together as a team. We formulated a plan, executed it, and had a positive result.”
Fourteen career, volunteer and trainee firefighters, technicians and paramedics from three different companies responded. They worked together to secure the bus, extract the three passengers and transport two of them for medical care, according to Frederick News-Post reporting from the time.
“Without the calm and the collective actions of those cited in this citation, the outcome of the incident would have been far worse,” county Fire Chief Tom Owens said. “The level of professionalism, training and personal skill exhibited by those directly involved with this incident reflects highly upon the Frederick County Fire Department and their oath to protect the citizens and visitors of Frederick County.”
Owens, Deputy Chief Tom Coe and County Executive Jan Gardner presented the firefighters, technicians and paramedics with certificates and pins to commemorate their service.
“One of our fundamental responsibilities in the county is to make sure that we take care and keep the people in our community safe, and I want to thank you all for doing that,” Gardner said. “I want to thank you for a job well done on behalf of the county.”
Copyright 2017 Frederick News-Post
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