A Baltimore County volunteer firefighter was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center Tuesday morning with serious head injuries. County police say he had been struck on the head by a falling tree limb at an accident scene in Cromwell Valley.
Michael Murphy, 22, who has worked since 2008 as firefighter for the Montgomery County Fire Department, was wearing full turnout gear, including a helmet, and was conscious and breathing when he was flown out. He was treated and released from the hospital within hours of his arrival.
Murphy had been working with rescue crews dispatched at 9:39 a.m. to the accident scene at Cromwell Bridge and Satyr Hill roads. An SUV had run off the road and down an embankment into a wooded area. The adult male driver, who was the vehicle's only occupant, was trapped. Rescue crews extended an aerial ladder from a fire truck and lowered a basket to the man.
At 10:25 a.m., the top branch of a small tree snapped and fell on Murphy's head as he helped with the extrication. His injuries were considered serious, but not life-threatening, officials said.
The driver of the vehicle was taken to Shock Trauma in serious condition.