The ambulance rescue helicopter yesterday responded to back-to-back calls for people trapped after car accidents on the South Coast.
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The first accident happened on Braidwood Road, about 2.5km west of the Tianjara Falls, at 11.24am.
The initial calls were for as many as six people trapped in a car accident and ambulance crews from Bomaderry, Huskisson and Culburra responded.
When they arrived they found a 31-year-old woman trapped in a van that had rolled over.
There were also three passengers who had been in the van – all children – but they had been able to get out and ambulance officers found them walking around at the scene.
The rescue helicopter was called for the woman, who had reported neck and shoulder injuries.
Once emergency crews were able to free the woman, they ascertained that she and the three passengers had minor injuries and could be transported to Shoalhaven Hospital by road, the helicopter was called off.
By that time, the helicopter crew received a second call, to an another accident, involving two cars on Fern Street, Gerringong, 150m south of the roundabout at Elambra Parade.
Lake Illawarra police Inspector Steve Johnson said a BMW travelling north had collided with a Toyota Avalon travelling in the opposite direction, around 12.50pm.
Rescue crews, including State Emergency Service volunteers, worked on site for an hour to free the two female drivers from their vehicles.
The first of the two freed, a 34-year-old from Bradbury, had minor injuries and was taken by road to Shoalhaven Hospital.
The driver of BMW, a 65-year-old Gerringong woman, suffered pelvis and leg fractures in the crash.
Despite the rescue helicopter, it was decided to transport the second person by road to Wollongong Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Traffic was diverted for an hour while emergency services responded to the accident.
Police are now investigating the incident.