On Wednesday 9/27/2017 just after 11pm Thorndale Fire Company was dispatched to the Route 30 bypass eastbound between Route 282 and 113 for the auto accident reported serious. Also on the assignment was the Downingtown Fire Company and MICU 46 from Minquas Fire Company and MICU 87 from Uwchlan Ambulance Corp.

Thorndale Volunteers responded with Rescue, Engine, Traffic, Utility and Squad 38 along with Deputy and Assistant 38. Initial reports were that a vehicle was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes and may have hit a tractor trailer which then caught fire. As everyone was responding, updated info was gathered that a vehicle did in fact hit two tractor trailers head on and the driver was ejected and had unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. Due to the serious nature of the incident the eastbound lanes were totally shutdown.

Numerous Traffic Units were on the incident and shut down traffic and various points. Traffic 38 was located on the bypass eastbound at 322 shutting traffic down there while Utility 38 had the ramp from 322 onto 30 eastbound closed. Squad 38 also responded and originally was at 322 assisting the Utility until they were re-directed to the ramp from 282 onto 30 east to assist Traffic 45. Squad 38 proceeded up onto the highway and with the assistance of Assistant 38 and several firefighters from 45/46 began to clear the backlog of vehicles stuck on the highway, while Traffic 35 fromWagontown assisted with the 282 on ramp. It took a little over an hour to clear all the cars and tractor trailers off the roadway.

While the traffic units were operating Engine 38 and Rescue 38 handled a fuel leak from one of the saddle tanks on the one tractor trailer involved and assisted with placing oil dry on the roadway.

After approx. 2 1/2 hours fire crews were released from the scene and it was turned over to PA State Police for the investigation. The eastbound lanes remained closed for over nine hours and finally opened close to 9am in the morning.