According to the Centre Daily Times, an officer with the State College Police was running a School Bus loading zone enforcement in the area when he heard the accident at 7:42 am.  He responded and found a ford passenger car with three occupants on its side in the parking lot of a gas station on East College Ave at Squirrel Drive.  There was apparently smoke coming from the engine compartment so he used an extinguisher to stop any possible fire and called for assistance. 

The Alpha Fire Company was dispatched for the entrapment with fire.  Rescue 518 and Huntingdon county Engines 11 and 19-1 (on transfer to the main station to cover the three engines at the Bellefonte fire) responded from the main station.  Engine 514, already available from Bellefonte also responded to the scene from the east.   

Chief S. Clouser (500) arrived on scene at 7:47 and reported one vehicle on its side, with three trapped and no fire.  Chief Clouser took command.  518 arrived on scene at 7:50 am and started stabilization and the Huntingdon Engines pulled a protection line.  514 arrived on scene at 7:52 and augmented the Rescue crew. 

The Rescue crews went to work cutting and floping the roof to remove the victims.   Chief Clouser placed Geisinger Life Flight, which has a helicopter stationed at the University Park Airport, on standby at 7:55 am.   Victim one was removed within 7 minutes of 518’s arrival and all three victims were out of the car and in E.M.S. care by 8:04 am. 

Once E.M.S. confirmed that there was no need for the helicopter, Chief Clouser placed Life Flight available at 8:09 am.  Centre LifeLink E.M.S. transported the victims to Mount Nittany Medical Center. 

The accident had east bound lanes of East College Avenue closed for approximately 30 minutes at the west bound traffic was reduced to one lane during a Friday morning rush hour.   

While crews operated at the scene, Chief Clouser directed the other two engines returning from Bellefonte to stage at the College Township station for a possible landing zone assignment.

Crews operated on scene for approximately 45 minutes and fire police remained on scene till 8:50 am.