Fatal Collision in Longview - 02/22/14
On February 21, around 6:40 p.m., a citizen called 911 to report a vehicle driving the wrong way in the west bound lanes of Tennant Way in Longview. Less than a minute later another caller to 911 reported there was a serious injury accident in the 500 block of Tennant Way. Longview Police officers arrived on scene and observed four vehicles that had been involved in the collision. The driver of one of the vehicles was deceased at the scene. Several other people were injured and transported to the hospital by ambulance.

The deceased driver was identified as Brett Dawdy, a 47 year old Longview resident. Dawdy's wife and teenage daughter were seriously injured in the collision and hospitalized. A third passenger in the vehicle was treated at the hospital and released. Dawdy was driving a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder.

The driver of the wrong way vehicle was identified as Nichole D. McCaslin, a 32 year old Portland resident. McCaslin was driving a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. McCaslin was also transported to the hospital for an injury. After being treated, McCaslin was arrested for one count of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault. McCaslin was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail.

Washington State Patrol was requested to assist with the collision investigation. The west bound lanes of Tennant Way were closed for almost seven hours while the scene was processed. The roadway was opened back up to traffic around 1:30 a.m.

Two Simultaneous Car Crashes in Longview Challenge Ambulance Service (Photo) - 02/14/14
At approximately 2:55 and 3:45 respectively Longview Fire responded to back to back car accidents on Ocean Beach Hwy. The first was a three car crash at the intersection of NW Nichols and Ocean Beach, AMR transported two patients from two separate vehicles from this accident scene, both with minor injuries.
When the second car crash was dispatched Longview Fire responded, but this time there were no AMR units available in the system, this is called Level Zero. Longview Fire arrived, quickly triaged the three car accident, and transported one patient to the hospital via Longview Medic Unit. The female victim was transported to the hospital with back and neck pain.
Longview Fire Department has been staffing its medic unit recently to fill the "Level Zero Gap" in the community. This incident, and the life saving advanced care and transport during Sunday's severe snow storm are perfect examples of how Longview Fire is filling the ambulance transport gap to the citizenship of Longview, and saving lives.