Maryland | Three people injured in multi-vehicle RTC in Mt Airy
Rt 144, Mt Airy | 22 Jan 2012
A Howard County Police Department officer, a person he had in custody, and a driver who hit them are all in the hospital this morning after an early morning crash in Mt. Airy.
The injured are identified as Officer Richard M. Romberger Jr., 43, of the Howard County Police Department, Matthew J. Griffis, 27, of the 24000-block of Burnt Hill Road, Clarksburg, Md., and Ricky A. Epperson, 25, of the 7800-block of East Hill Road, Mt. Airy, Md. All three individuals were flown by Maryland State Police helicopters to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where they are undergoing treatment for what are preliminarily believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
Shortly before 2:00 a.m. today, Trooper First Class James Smith of the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack was dispatched to attempt to locate a crash reported to be on Rt. 144 near Mt. Airy. The trooper was southbound on Rt. 27 when he noticed several Howard County Police cars with their emergency lights activated on Rt. 144 near Griffith Road, about one-quarter mile east of Rt. 27.
TFC Smith pulled up behind several Howard County units parked on the eastbound shoulder and also activated his emergency lights. Parked just ahead of him in the eastbound lane of Rt. 144 was Officer Romberger’s patrol unit, which also had its emergency lights on.
TFC Smith learned the crash he had been dispatched to was in Howard County and was being handled by county officers. They told him a driver involved in that crash, Matthew Griffis, had left the scene on Penn Shop Road, but had just been located and taken into custody by Officer Romberger and the other officers at their current location on Rt. 144.
The preliminary investigation by Maryland State Police indicates that Officer Romberger was standing on the passenger side of his patrol car with Griffis when they were struck by a 2000 Volvo S-70, driven by Ricky Epperson. State Police investigators believe Epperson was traveling eastbound toward the stopped police cars, all of which had their emergency lights activated, when he failed to stop, clipped the front of the parked State Police patrol car, hit the Howard County patrol car, and then struck Officer Romberger and Griffis.
TFC Smith called for emergency medical personnel to respond as police on the scene administered first aid to the injured. Maryland State Police helicopters from Frederick and Baltimore were dispatched to the scene and transported the three injured persons.
The Maryland State Police CRASH Team responded to the scene and will be conducting the continuing investigation. A specific cause for the crash has not been positively identified at this time. Nothing is being ruled out at this early stage of the investigation.
No charges have been filed at this time. State Police investigators are continuing to collect evidence and will review their investigation with the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office before charges are filed.
Maryland | Emergency preparedness training begins in March in Cockeysville
Towson | 20 Jan 2012
A six-week program to train community leaders how to help themselves and their neighbors during weather disasters and other emergencies begins March 20, 2012 in Cockeysville.
“Neighbors Helping Neighbors” is a partnership between emergency responders and the people they serve. The goal is to train civic and business leaders in basic response skills so they can help their communities when disaster strikes.
All classes will be held 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Co., 11210 York Road 21030.
Scheduled dates for classes are as follows:
- March 20 and 27
- April 3, 10, and 24
Topics will include:
- Emergency Preparedness/Assisting People with Disabilities/Natural and Technological Hazards
- Crime Prevention and Awareness
- Volunteer Mobilization Center Training/Introduction to Volunteer Opportunities
- Fire Safety and Extinguishers
- First Aid
- CPR
Online registration is available, or contact the county’s Office of Volunteers at 410-887-2715.
Maryland | SHA prepares for winter weather strike on Central and Western Maryland
Maryland | 21 Jan 2012
As a winter storm is poised to strike from far western to central Maryland, the State Highway Administration (SHA) is deploying anti-icing crews and preparing other equipment that may be needed later this evening and throughout the night.
Anti-icing is a proactive measure in which crews apply a liquid salt brine solution to interstates, primary routes and bridges to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the roadway at the onset of a storm.
“While SHA has been clearing roads in Western Maryland for most of the winter, this may be the first real storm for the metropolitan area. The specific hazard tonight and through tomorrow morning is the forecasted freezing rain, which could create treacherous conditions for everyone on the roads,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “Since temperatures have been at or below freezing, it will only take a dusting for very slick roadway conditions to develop, so as with all storms please take this seriously and be careful. With the precipitation forecasted to begin just after rush hour, the best advice is to get home this evening and stay there.”
“Since the forecast calls for freezing rain, which can make road conditions particularly precarious even with crews salting, organizations, athletic teams and other groups should keep a close eye on the storm and plan on the possibility of rescheduling evening events,” said Administrator Peters.
During inclement weather it is always best to avoid travel if possible. If you must drive, “Know Before You Go,” especially in ice and snow with 511 – a new tool available to travelers in Maryland this winter. Dial 511 or 1-855-GOMD511 from a land line or mobile phone for traffic, current weather reports and road conditions, including incidents, travel times and road closures. With internet access, visit www.MD511.org, register with My511 to customize your reports for your most frequent routes and areas of interest.
Just as SHA moves up preparations for winter, drivers should do so as well. SHA advises Marylanders to pack “winter survival kits.”
• Check tire pressure. Check tire inflation pressures because air contracts as temperatures get colder. For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in outside temperature, tire inflation pressure changes about one psi.
• Check car fluids
• Keep an extra mobile phone charger and/or charged extra batteries in the vehicle
• Stock a flash light and extra batteries
• Keep a bag of road salt, sand and/or cat litter in the trunk
• Keep jumper cables handy
• Put a small shovel in the vehicle
• Have a basic tool kit and flares/road reflectors
Truckers can also make use of certain park and ride lots that can accommodate large trucks in the event the snow storm reaches six inches or more instead of parking along highway ramps and shoulders. This brings the total truck parking options during a storm to 45 across the State. A new “mobile app” that gives truckers an easy way to navigate to these six new lots and to existing truck parking can be found on SHA’s web site (www.roads.maryland.gov) and click on the truck icon in the upper right corner.
Maryland | Mother and daughter killed in Essex house fire
900 block of Arncliffe Road, Baltimore County | 10 Jan 2012
Police have identified the victims of last night’s fatal fire in the 900 block of Arncliffe Road in Precinct 11/Essex.
They are Carolyn Lee Himmelheber, 63, and Stacy Lynn Himmelheber, 40. They were mother and daughter, and both lived in the row home where the fire occurred.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The home was not equipped with smoke detectors.
Investigators estimate that the fire caused $25,000 worth of damage. Two cats and two dogs also died in the fire.
Fire crews were dispatched to the Arncliffe Road address around 7:30 p.m. Monday. Firefighters had some difficulty getting into the home because it was filled with various belongings, but found the women upstairs.
Medic crews transported one victim to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and one to Franklin Square Hospital Center; they were in critical condition at the time of transport and were pronounced dead at the hospitals.
Earlier yesterday, around 9:30 a.m., the Himmelheber women were involved in a minor vehicular accident on Arncliffe Road, near their home. Medic crews transported them to Franklin Square; the elder Himmelheber suffered minor injuries, and her daughter went to the hospital for observation.
Maryland | BCoFD receives $1.75M Fed grant to purchase 60 cardiac monitors for EMS
Towson | The Baltimore County Fire Department has received $1.75 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for state-of-the-art equipment that will help save the lives of victims of cardiac arrest.
The grant will purchase 60 cardiac electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor/defribrillator/pacemakers – enough for every career and volunteer medic unit, as well as for every EMS district supervisor.
“This federal money will help ensure that our EMS personnel have the best and most modern equipment to treat victims of cardiac events,” said County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. “We are grateful for this assistance, especially in these difficult economic times.”
Prompt treatment is critical for cardiac arrest patient. The sooner a sudden cardiac arrest patient is defibrillated, the greater his chances of survival. If a patient receives a shock within one minute, the chance of resuscitation is 90 percent; the chance of resuscitation drops to five percent if the victim waits 10 minutes for a shock.
The federal money comes to Baltimore County through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP). Grants from this program are used to pay for training for firefighters, equipment, firefighting vehicles and public fire safety education. Since 2001, Baltimore County’s fire service has received more than $9 million from AFGP.
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