Members of the Fowler Volunteer Fire Department, and their families, gathered Saturday evening, Feb. 20 for the annual banquet and awards dinner. Named Firefighter of the Year was B.J. Ballard; EMT of the Year, Pat Christensen; and Rookie of the Year, Britany Keen.
The celebration was cut short though when volunteers were called into action. According to Fire Chief, Tracy Nelson, within a 20 minute time span Saturday evening, 11 people were transported from two different accident scenes. In addition to Fowler's two ambulance crews, Manzanola and TransCare each dispatched units.
Crews were first called to an automobile accident east of Fowler on Highway 50 at County Road 5.5. According to Nelson, three vehicles were involved, two rolled over. Two children and one adult were transported to Parkview Hospital in Pueblo.
Shortly after returning to the station, crews were called out to a second accident east on Highway 50 between County Roads 8 and 9 in the Manzanola district. The initial call indicated a child was trapped inside a vehicle. Nelson said that accident actually involved several individuals and a total of eight people were transported from the scene to Saint Mary Corwin Hospital in Pueblo.
Both accidents are being investigated by Colorado State Patrol.
