Doctor says it was silent when he called out at fatal Nittedal crash

A doctor who was first on the scene after a fatal traffic accident in Nittedal said it was silent when he called out to check if anyone needed help. The doctor, who spoke to Dagbladet, was on his way home from a May 17 celebration when he encountered the crash at Gjelleråsen on Sunday evening.

Police reported Monday morning that one person had died in hospital after the accident. Two others were initially described as critically injured but were later confirmed by police prosecutor Caroline Kvaal Engebretsen on Wednesday to no longer be in critical condition.

The doctor, who has worked as a physician for four years, said this was his first experience at a crash scene of this kind. He described quickly taking off his bunad jacket and entering “doctor mode.” He and a retired ambulance worker, who arrived from the opposite direction, assessed both vehicles to determine who needed help first.

“We started checking both cars and formed a picture of who needed help first. Then we tried to get the most seriously injured out of the cars,” the doctor said. He added that the person who died received advanced medical care at the scene and was alive when transported to hospital.

The doctor credited the efforts of everyone who assisted before emergency services arrived, saying their work likely contributed to saving lives. He also noted that a debrief was held and that those involved were offered support from the Red Cross.

The doctor, who does not wish to be publicly named, said he hoped the information would be reassuring for the family to know that a very good job was done immediately after the accident.