Driver aged 70 incarcerated and airlifted by SMURD helicopter following accident in Prahova

A serious road accident occurred on Saturday morning in the village of Șirna, Prahova County, leaving a 70-year-old lorry driver trapped in his cab.

The collision, between a bus and a lorry, required an emergency response from rescue crews. Firefighters from Ploiești were deployed with a fire engine, a rescue and extrication vehicle, and a SMURD first aid crew, with the SMURD helicopter also called in for medical transport.

The lorry driver, the 70-year-old man, was found trapped in the cab but conscious. Firefighters successfully completed the extrication operation, freeing him and handing him over to the medical crew for an initial assessment.

Given the victim's advanced age and the severity of his condition, he was transferred to the SMURD helicopter and swiftly airlifted to hospital for specialist medical care.

The other driver involved in the accident, a 33-year-old man who had been at the wheel of the bus, sustained various injuries but took personal responsibility for declining hospital transport for further medical evaluation.

The relevant authorities have opened an investigation to establish the exact circumstances that led to the accident. The inquiry will seek to determine the factors that contributed to the collision and any liability arising from it.