A head-on collision at the intersection of North Ave. (Route 1) and France Street Monday morning resulted in eight people being taken by ambulance to Norwalk Hospital.
The drivers of both SUVs had to be extricated from their vehicles, which sustained major damage.
The crash was reported at 11:41 a.m. Four ambulances and multiple fire companies responded to the scene.
According to family members who were passengers in the vehicle, the female operator of a 2011 Honda Pilot was westbound on Westport Avenue, and heading toward East Avenue down a steep hill, when she passed out.
The front seat passenger said she grabbed the steering wheel and attempted to gain control of the vehicle. However, at the intersection of North Avenue and France Street, the Honda veered into the oncoming lane of traffic and crashed head-on into a Dodge Caravan.
The driver and front passenger of the Honda had to be cut out of the severely-damage SUV, as did the woman driving the Caravan. Firefighters used multiple Hurst "Jaws of Life" extrication tools to free the women.
Both driver's sustained serious injures, according to Dep. Fire Chief Gino Gatto.
The operator of the Honda was the last to be freed and placed on a stretcher. Gatto said it took at least 20 minutes to extricate her, which required cutting off the SUV's roof.
Gatto said there were six people in the Honda and two in the Caravan, all of whom were transported by four ambulances to Norwalk Hospital.
The commander of the police Identification Unit, Lt. Arthur Weisgerber, was called to the scene to recreate the accident. North Avenue between France Street and Knight Street was expected to remain closed for several hours during the investigation.
