RAWLINGS — A West Virginia man was flown to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore late Monday after his vehicle traveled underneath a tractor-trailer on U.S. Route 220, according to Maryland State Police.
Stephen C. Sluss, 65, of Keyser, was trapped in the wreckage for nearly three hours and assisted during that time by Allegany County Department of Emergency Services and Maryland State Police Trooper 5 helicopter paramedics prior to the arrival of a medical Go Team from the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and extrication by volunteer firefighters from the Rawlings, Bedford Road, Cresaptown, LaVale and Fountain volunteer fire departments.
Scene incident commanders may request a Go Team response for patients with suspected life-threatening injuries when extrication times are estimated to exceed one hour, officials said.
Police said the accident occurred about 9:30 p.m. just south of Collins Drive in Rawlings as the truck driver — Joseph Phareau, 46, of Jacksonville, Florida — was backing the vehicle into a lot. Sluss’ vehicle collided with it.
Sluss was removed about 12:25 a.m. after the trailer was lifted off his 2016 Chevrolet Equinox by first responders utilizing shore lifting devices, according to reports from the scene.
He was flown to the Baltimore hospital by Cumberland-based Trooper 5.
The accident remains under investigation by state police. Phareau was not injured, police said.
The highway was reopened to traffic at about 3 a.m. Tuesday.