On October 19, 2023 at 2:13pm, Delaware City Fire Company, Port Penn Volunteer Fire Company, New Castle County Paramedics, and Delaware State Police Aviation Section were dispatched to the 700 block of Delaware City Port Penn Road (Route 9) for a motor vehicle collision with entrapment. Crews quickly arrived to find a single vehicle vs a utility pole and a tree which resulted in the vehicle coming to rest in the marsh with the driver still inside. Access was made to the vehicle by cutting through tree limbs with a chain saw and removing a window. Fortunately, the driver was not trapped but would require assistance exiting the vehicle. A 14' roof ladder was placed to allow the driver to be assisted from the vehicle, up the ladder, and to the care of awaiting EMS. Ambulance A-15 and NCCEMS transported the patient to Christiana Hospital in stable condition. Delaware State Police are investigating the collision and Deputy 29 (J. Newman) had Port Penn Command.

Of note is that early this morning crews from the two departments had communicated and, realizing that one department was short-staffed, combined staffing to ensure that the citizens of the region had adequate fire and EMS protection. That decision paid off and helped to ensure that staff apparatus were available to respond and led to a successful outcome in this incident.