TRAPPE, Md. - Along Main Street in Trappe, an annual tradition continued Wednesday evening.
"Santa comes to town every year, and we ride him around on the fire truck," said Justin Firth of the Trappe Volunteer Fire Company. "He wishes everyone Merry Christmas and throws candy to the people that come out."
For more than 20 years, Santa Claus has visited Trappe.
But since there is usually no snow on the ground for his sleigh, he hitches a ride with the Trappe VFC, which takes him around town to hear folks' Christmas wishes. This year he rode atop Engine 32.
This year, however, Santa's visit was a little more dramatic.
"I didn't really know what was going on," Santa said. "Our lead fire truck all of a sudden took off and then the man that was on the back with me, his pager went off and they had an accident to go to."
The Trappe VFC had been dispatched to a two car accident with injuries at Route 50 and Barber Road.
Santa wasted no time helping out.
"A woman had a cut on her leg. He actually took her towel and applied pressure to the wound," Firth, who was also dispatched to the scene, recounted.
For Santa, this was a new experience for him. But he responded to the accident scene as if he had been a first responder for centuries.
"It is my first accident," Santa said. "I just - I don't know what happened. I kicked in gear and I went and checked on the people that were involved in the accident."
On the scene, Santa stemmed bleeding from one injured driver, and also helped direct traffic and clean up oils and other fluids spilled from the vehicles.
One person was taken to the hospital in Easton, and is expected to be fine.
Santa said the experience reinforced for him the importance of Delmarva's first responders.
"We need our local responders," Santa said. "We need them doing what they do, their commitment to this. Me being able to help them last night was just a joy."