Around 5:30 pm on June 2nd, I heard Sullivan PD dispatching MOBAP EMS and SPD to a report of a motor vehicle accident on eastbound I-44 at or near the 226 mile marker, and advised personnel there were reports of multiple injuries and ejection. I let Jim Bartle know I was on the way to photograph the scene for the paper, as he was out of town on a work detail, and kept him advised throughout the incident so he could put a story together quickly and update motorists in the area as well. I parked just past Acid Mines Road and walked up back up the road to the guardrail above the scene, deciding to stay up on the shoulder of the Service Road, as traffic was heavy on the westbound side of 44 and responders were going to have their hands full from the looks of it. It appeared to be a single vehicle accident, car rolled over into the center median and injured patients laying on the inside shoulder of the wb lanes, as well as several in the grassy median on both sides of the car. Several motorists had stopped to lend aid to the patients and remained in place there, until the arrival of firefighters, medics, and police officers….

…..while other motorists stopped and assisted law enforcement officers with traffic control and direction, until additional resources were able to arrive and assist. Traffic initially on both east and westbound sides, was directed to pass by the accident scene on the outside shoulders. Chief Eric requested multiple ground ambulances and air units to respond to the scene and once the air units arrived, westbound traffic was diverted to the exit ramp of the East Overpass so that air units could land on the westbound lanes. Eastbound traffic was diverted up the exit ramp to the East Overpass as well and traffic split to the south to take the South Service Road east and to the north to the North Service Road going east. MOBAP EMS were on scene ahead of Sullivan Fire Department with one ambulance, and within minutes, three ambulances from North Crawford County Ambulance District arrived to assist, while Sullivan Firefighters continued to respond to the scene in great numbers and multiple trucks…

…within 17 minutes of the call, Missouri State Troopers were on scene beginning their investigation….

…a minute later, NCCAD`s first ambulance arrived to assist….

…and even more firefighters were on scene as well….

….19 minutes into the scene, NCCAD had their second ambulance on scene and one air unit landed on westbound lanes of 44….

Multiple agencies and personnel working together on scene in an effective and fluid manner to provide medical aid to the patients and provide safe and fast travel to medical facilities…

A total of seven ground ambulances responded to the scene from as far away as Gerald and St Clair and at least three air units landed on westbound 44 for transport of patients to area hospitals. For the hour I was there photographing the scene, I saw GREAT TEAMWORK by all first responders and a handful of concerned citizens and military personnel.