UPDATED: Injuries reported in Rocky Fork Lake crash

By Branden Jackman, 
Firefighter/ Paramedic
Public Information Officer
Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire District

At approximately 1:47 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, Paint Creek EMS & Fire was alerted to a two-car motor-vehicle crash at the intersection of North Shore Drive and Beechwood Road in the area of Rocky Fork Lake State Park.

Units responded from both the Rainsboro and Hillsboro stations and were updated en route to the crash that there were significant injuries, multiple people hurt and that all occupants of the vehicles were out of their vehicles under their own power.

The first arriving units found a “T-bone” type accident involving a small SUV and a full-sized truck with significant damage to both vehicles. Additional resources were needed and additional ambulances were dispatched from Station 23 in Hillsboro and Station 21 in Greenfield as well as a mutual aid squad was requested from Lynchburg Area Joint Fire & Ambulance.

One occupant from the truck was transported to Highland District Hospital with minor injuries, the other occupant of this vehicle refused all treatment at the scene.

The occupants of the SUV included one adult and four children. All occupants of the SUV were evaluated on scene and it was determined air medical transport was necessary for three of the individuals due to the critical nature of their injuries.

Crews on scene requested air medical helicopters and received two helicopters from Med Flight and two from University of Cincinnati Air Care. Three occupants of the SUV were flown from the scene; the fourth and fifth victims were transported by helicopter after evaluation at Highland District Hospital in Hillsboro.

The children from the SUV were transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital while the adult from this vehicle was transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The occupants of the truck, which received minor injuries, reported using their seat belts. The occupants of the SUV reported not having their seat belts on and the children in the vehicle were not properly secured in child seats where appropriate. As you can see from the pictures, the air bags in the SUV deployed but they are not enough, please always wear your seat belts when in a vehicle.

Resources needed on scene included Engine 203 from the Hillsboro Station, Squad 223, 224 and 225 also from the Hillsboro Station, Squad 222 from the Rainsboro Station, Squad 220 from the Greenfield Station and mutual aid Squad 426 from Lynchburg. Also on scene were Command 244 from Paint Creek and Command 441 from Lynchburg.

Law enforcement officers from the Highland County Sheriff’s Office and troopers from the Wilmington post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted units on scene.

All EMS and fire units from Paint Creek and Lynchburg were clear of the scene and had handed control to law enforcement by 3:20 p.m.