Andover Fire Rescue Responds to Three Near-Simultaneous Motor Vehicle Crashes

ANDOVER — Chief Michael Mansfield reports that Andover Fire Rescue responded to three concurrent motor vehicle crashes on Friday afternoon.

The most serious crash occurred first at 3:37 p.m. when Andover Fire Rescue was called to the area around 81 Salem St. for a report of a motor vehicle crash through a utility pole. 

Upon arrival, rescuers found that a 2015 2-door Ford Mustang coupe had crashed into the pole and then continued on, snapping the pole and crashing into a nearby stone wall. 

Four teenage females were in the vehicle at the time. One was trapped inside the vehicle and another occupant was unconscious when firefighters arrived. After an extrication and rescue effort, the trapped occupant was freed, and emergency medical services were rendered to all four occupants. The occupant who had been rendered unconscious, a 15-year-old girl, had suffered a serious head laceration and was taken by ambulance to an area hospital with serious injuries. The other three were taken to hospitals by ambulances with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

At 3:41 p.m., while rescue efforts were under way on Salem Street, firefighters were called to the area outside 349 North Main St. for a report of a two-car motor vehicle crash. Four total occupants were evaluated by emergency medical services, and all four declined transportation to the hospital.

Then at 3:44 p.m., a third crash occurred near the intersection of Greenwood and High Plain Roads. A single vehicle had struck a rock wall. Firefighters evaluated two occupants, and each declined to be transported to the hospital.

At peak, eight total EMS units were operating in the Town of Andover. Andover received mutual aid assistance from Tewksbury, North Reading, North Andover and Lawrence General Hospital Advanced Life Support.

“Andover Fire Rescue is a professional lifesaving organization, and while we train for simultaneous incidents occurring in our community, we are also fortunate to have tremendous mutual aid support from our neighboring and partner agencies,” Chief Mansfield said. 

Salem Street was closed in both directions during the initial investigation, and the roadway may close again for utility pole replacement work. National Grid is on-scene at this time. Power may be cut to the immediate area for a brief time during replacement efforts. 

The crashes are under investigation by the Andover Police Department. 

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