Teen ejected from vehicle while fleeing police

FIRE & EMS WATCH

Becky Robinette Wright/Chesterfield Observer The driver of this pickup truck was injured when his vehicle struck a tree head on.

At 2 a.m. on Sept. 15, a patrol officer conducting a routine check of Carver Middle School spotted a suspicious vehicle on the premises. As he attempted to approach the vehicle, the driver drove off into a nearby neighborhood, ignoring the officer's signal to stop.

When the officer caught up with the vehicle in the 3800 block of Harrow Drive, the vehicle had wrecked, overturning at least once and ejecting the passenger. Both the driver and passenger were juveniles and were transported to VCU Medical Center with nonlife threatening injuries.

They each face a variety of charges including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, eluding police, trespassing and violation of the curfew ordinance.

Assisting police with the incident was Chester Engine #1, Centralia Engine #17, Dutch Gap Engine #14 and River's Bend Ambulance #18.

Driver injured in Matoaca crash

A pickup truck driver was injured on Sept. 13 around 11:50 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway in the 7600 block of Woodpecker Road, skidded through a yard, and then crashed head on into a large pine tree.

Becky Robinette Wright/Chesterfield Observer Emergency crews safely navigated narrow road conditions and other challenges while helping a man after he wrecked his pickup truck on Woodpecker Road.

Rushing to the driver's aid were county police, Matoaca Engine #8, Phillips Engine #13, Phillips Brush Truck #13 and Ettrick-Matoaca Volunteer Rescue Squad.

A deep ditch presented a challenge to cross. Rescuers struggled through thick, waist-high weeds and briars to reach the truck. The road in front of the accident was narrow, and traffic constantly whizzed by.

The victim was removed from the smashed truck and transported to a local hospital. His condition has not been released.

The tow truck driver faced numerous challenges removing the truck from the tree, and was at last successful after several efforts.

Suspicious fire at Iron Bridge Park

Airport Engine #15 was dispatched to 6600 Whitepine Road on Sept. 15 around 8:50 p.m. for a dumpster on fire. Crews suited up and made quick work of the blaze. The fire is under investigation.

Fire at IHOP

Crews from Dutch Gap Station were dispatched to IHOP at Bermuda Crossings on Sept. 13 around 4:30 p.m. for a fire inside the business.

Firefighters discovered the fire was contained to a grease trap, and the situation was quickly brought under control.

Smoke in building at VSU

Alarms sounded, and crews sprang into action when a call went out on Sept. 14 around 2 p.m. for smoke in a building at 2801 Martin Luther King Drive on the campus of Virginia State University.

Responding to the emergency was Ettrick Engine #12, Matoaca Engine #8, Phillips Engine #13, Dutch Gap Truck #14, Bensley Truck #3, Matoaca Medic #8, Petersburg Engine #1, Petersburg Truck #3, a tactical safety officer and Battalion Chief #2. Ettrick Truck #12 became available and was added to the call, so Bensley Truck #3 could be placed back in service.

As crews headed to the scene, campus security discovered the problem was not smoke, but steam from a vent, and all units were cancelled.

Alarm at Applebee's

On Sept. 12, Chester Company #1 was dispatched around 8:48 p.m. to 11900 Iron Bridge Road for an alarm activation at Applebee's.

While en route, information was relayed to dispatch from Applebee's that the activation was accidental, and all was under control. Chester crews were released from responding.