Four Prince George’s County firefighters were injured late last night when an 18-wheel tractor trailer truck hit their fire truck on the inter-loop of the Capitol Beltway in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Around 10:30 pm (3/21) Rescue Squad 47 from the Silesia fire station along with other units from Prince George’s County Fire Departments units were responding to an auto accident on the outer-loop of the beltway on the Wilson Bridge when the tractor trailer truck hit the rescue squad.

According to Mark Brady, chief spokesperson for PG Fire/EMS, as Rescue Squad 47, with all emergency warning devices on, came to a near stop to turn into the access ramp they were struck from behind by an 18-wheel tractor-trailer. The Rescue Squad was struck with such force that it was knocked over onto its right side, trapping the four firefighters on-board.

Firefighters who were on the scene of the other accident ran to provide help top the trapped firefighters,

It took firefighters from Rescue Squad 3 from the District of Columbia Fire Department along with other firefighters over 30 minutes to free the trapped firefighters.

Brady says four firefighters were transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The combination of the two incidents prompted a response of nearly 100 public safety officials including fire/EMS units from Prince George’s County, Alexandria, District of Columbia, Fairfax and the Naval District Washington. Law Enforcement included Prince George’s County, Maryland State Police and Helicopter, United States Park Police Helicopter and Metropolitan Police Departments.