Fire Department: Airbags and Seat Belts Saved Car Crash Victims

The Connecticut State Police is investigating a two-car accident that caused a BMW to plunge off the roadway and down an embankment on the Merritt Parkway Tuesday night, according to a news release by Assistant Chief Robert Kepchar of the Westport Fire Department.

No one was seriously injured, according to the release.

Around 9:54 p.m., the Westport Fire Department responded to the accident on the parkway's northbound lane between exits 42 and 44. Arriving firefighters found the BMW down the embankment on the right shoulder and a Ford Escape in the left lane. Both vehicles were heavily damaged, according to the release. Four occupants of the vehicles were evaluated by Westport firefighters and turned over to American Medical Response personnel.

Firefighters assisted a tow truck operator in getting the vehicle up the embankment. Airbags and seat belts spared the two occupants of a late model BMW from serious injury, according to Kepchar. The occupants of the Ford Escape, which was rear ended, also were wearing seat belts as their airbags deployed. The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the State Police.

Traffic was limited to one lane for the duration of the incident. The last fire department unit left the scene at 11:09 p.m.