Four Firefighters Included in Injury Count

Update, 9:30 am Eastern:  Alcohol said to be determining factor.  Scroll down.

CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT ENGINE 62 was involved in a collision Tuesday evening around 6:23 pm that injured ten people including four firefighters.  The engine was responding to a medical call when it approached an intersection and slowed to look for traffic.  All cars in the intersection had stopped, so the pumper proceded into the intersection.  Without warning or reason, one of the stopped cars suddenly started forward and pulled into the path of the fire engine causing a destructive collision as the engine T-boned the right side of the car.

WSBT-TV image

The two adults and three children in the car were all trapped and had to be extricated.  They were all transported in serious condition.  A sixth passenger was only slightly injured.  The four firefighters were also transported in good to fair condition.

Police are investigating and still trying to find out why the 18-yr.-old driver suddenly started driving the car when he did.  The intersection is controlled by a 4-way stop sign.  Some witnesses say that the engine had its lights on, but they did not hear the siren.

WLS-TV prepared this video report from the scene:

Chicago Tribune has the STORY.
The Sun-Times has more plus photos HERE.

Update, 9:30 am Eastern:
The Chicago Tribune is now reporting that alcohol is suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash.  The Tribune writes:

Authorities say they suspect alcohol played a role in the collision between a Chicago fire truck and a carload of people in the Far South Side that injured 10 people.

None of the victims — including three children and four Chicago firefighters — suffered life-threatening injuries when the truck, responding to a fire call, collided with a mid-size sedan at Halsted and 128th streets, police said. A female passenger did suffer a broken neck, authorities said.

One source said the sedan's driver, a man, had a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit. A second source said police were seeking felony charges against the driver. Both sources requested anonymity because they weren't cleared to discuss the matter publicly.

A police spokesman said he was awaiting further information and declined to comment.

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Drove Into Fire Engine's Path

AN 80-YR.-OLD WOMAN WAS KILLED SATURDAY when her car was struck broadside by Denver, Colorado, Engine 22 as it was responding to a house fire.

KMGH-TV image

Witnesses all told police that same story, that the firetruck had the green light at the intersection and was traveling at a reduced speed when the woman drove through her red light and directly into the engine's path.  The engine's driver had no chance to avoid the collision and struck the car right at the driver's door.

KDVR-TV image

The fire engine pushed the car about 30 yards along the street and clipped two other cars along the way.  The firefighters immediately went to the aid of the woman who had to be extricated before they could begin CPR on her.  Unfortunately she arrived at the hospital DOA and was pronounced there.  None of the passengers in the other two cars were injured.

9News posted this video report from the scene:

KMGH-TV has the details HERE.

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The Signs Say to Not Drive Into Flood Waters

CHRISTMAS DAY IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, THIS YEAR will be remembered mainly by the widespread flooding through the area.  And the people in the northeast suburb of Eltham will remember it as the day the firetruck drove into the flood waters.  Despite the signs and the S.O.P.'s to the contrary, this tanker driver for the Victoria Country Fire Authority misjudged the depth of the water.

The CFA officers were not amused and have opened an investigation into the performance of the driver who is one of the most experienced operators in the department.  The Herald Sun is reporting:

Research Fire Brigade Capt Neville Stewart, who was not driving the truck, said the incident happened so quickly. "We weren't expecting it and then we just had to keep going, we couldn't stop it," he said.

The CFA's northwest metropolitan region acting operations manager, Tony O'Day, said the driver was one of the most experienced in the brigade. "It's an error of judgment," Mr O'Day said. "Once they started driving through the water, they were committed and made a decision to keep driving rather than stop. It's certainly not standard behaviour. We don't encourage it."

The crew got itself in deep trouble when it misjudged a signpost and sized up the water incorrectly.

Mr O'Day said people were always told not to drive through floodwaters because of the dangers, and the firefighters should have known better. He said the crew regretted the decision. "They are fairly shaken," Mr O'Day said.

Firegeezer got a kick out of the windshield wipers continuing to operate while under water.  And as the tanker comes up out of the water, watch the captain open the cab door and let the water run out.
Thanks to the Gnome Handler for finding this gem.

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At An Intersection …. Again

BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ENGINE 1 WAS INVOLVED in a vehicle collision while responding to an emergency call Monday night.  The accident occurred at an intersection around 9:15 pm when a car traveling on the cross street ran into the engine which had its lights and siren activated.

WGRZ-TV

The crash left the four firefighters with minor injuries as well as the driver of the car which was severely crumpled in the front end.

WIVB-TV

The firefighters immediately began first aid procedures on the civilian before they were all transported.  One FF remained in the hospital overnight while the other three were released.  However they will not be returning to work right away.  The civilian also has non-life threatening injuries.

WIVB-TV prepared this video report from the scene:

The accident investigation is continuing this morning.  No cause or charges have been decided yet.

The Buffalo News has the STORY.

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At An Intersection…..Again

FOUR PEOPLE INCLUDING TWO FIREFIGHTERS were injured Monday morning when a Los Angeles, California, Fire Department ambulance collided with an automobile at an intersection in North Hollywood.

KCBS-TV

The ambulance was responding to a call for an ambulance from a fire unit at a medical scene when the accident occurred around 9:20 am.  News reports say that the LAFD spokesman reported that all four people were transported with minor and/or non-critical injuries.  The two civilians that were injured were in the car that was struck.  The ambulance was "non-drivable" and had to be towed away from the site.

LAPD Sgt. Mitzi Fierro said that the woman driving the car will be cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.  "They were driving down the street, got into the intersection, the lights and sirens were on, they started making their turn, and hit the lady," Fierro said.  "It was a really clear intersection, and she had an ample view of the approaching ambulance.  She just didn't yield."

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Ice cream filled tractor trailer splits open during recovery

Around 4 pm Friday a tractor trailer tipped over when attempting to make an off-ramp near Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

The Journal/Gazette has the story and images:

MANDATORY CREDIT Photo: The Journal-Gazette, Michelle Davies / AP

Archie Ingersoll, writing in the December 23rd Journal Gazette article: Ice cream spill closes I-69 lanes at Lima, has the Michelle Davies video of the recovery efforts that lead to the failure of the trailer and spilling of the ice cream.

A member from the Health Department checks the condition of ice cream that spilled on Interstate 69, Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Police said 40,000 pounds of ice cream spilled from a semitrailer closing two lanes of I-69 at the start of the holiday weekend.

MANDATORY CREDIT. Photo: The Journal-Gazette, Michelle Davies / AP

Check your Edy's for container "road rash" (!!)

Mental Floss provides "7 Strange Things Trucks Have Spilled"

I am torn between the 56 foot sperm whale that exploded during transport and the 200 ton marine engine that required construction of a road as part of the recovery.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Plenty of Finger-Pointing Going On

FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS, SINCE MARCH a brand new $1 million ladder truck has been parked in a Quebec City, Quebec, firehouse due to a squabble over training and licensing issues.  The new truck is a tiller truck and the first one Quebec has had in over 20 years, so the expertise in operating it has been lost over time.

The fire department sent one of their drivers down to the U. S. to receive enough training that he could come back and instruct the other drivers on the technique.  But then some bureaucrat in the city government proclaimed that since it is a tractor-trailer rig, then all the operators need to hold a Class 1 truck drivers license.  That immediately brought the issue into the realm of the firefighters union who said, in so many French words, Baloney!

The firefighters have no problem with training on the tiller, but to insist that they have to take and pass the commercial truck driver's test is unneccesary.  The Emergency Vehicle driving license that they currently hold is considered good enough for all emergency vehicles.

The view from the safest seat in the fire department.  (TVA Nouvelles)

Now the stalemate is on while the fire chief is telling the citizens that the truck will go into service in February, 11 months after taking delivery.  The firefighters say that's fine, as long as they don't have to pass a Provincial test to do it.

Stay tuned. 

TVA Nouvelles has the STORY.

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Ken Block at l'Autodrome

Shot just south of Paris, France in Linas at l'Autodrome de Linas –Montlhéry, this 1.58 mile oval track, built in 1924, features banks as steep as 51 degrees, which is more than double the standard incline of most NASCAR ovals.

Chosen by Ken for this specific reason, the ramp-like banking proved to be a unique and exciting challenge. The driving physics for the stunts performed were totally unknown until Ken attempted the maneuvers during filming.

DC Shoes website

Monster World Rally Team.

Ken Block (born November 21, 1967, in Long Beach, California), is a professional rally driver with the Monster World Rally Team. Block is also one of the co-founders and recently appointed Chief Brand Officer of DC Shoes.

Block has also competed in many action sports events including skateboarding, snowboarding, and motocross.  Wikipedia link.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

thanks to Dave Statter for the link to the video, seen by 39 million viewers.

At an intersection ….. again.

A CHANNELVIEW FIRE DEPARTMENT (Houston area) fire engine collided with a pickup truck at an intersection in Bayview, Texas, Saturday afternoon.  The engine was responding on an assist call to a working house fire when it was struck in the front right corner by a pickup truck in an intersection.

KHOU-TV image

The driver of the pickup along with a female and one child that were also in the cab were airlifted to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.  The three firefighters on the engine were uninjured, however the pumper had extensive damage to the front end.  The pickup truck appears to be totaled.

KHOU-TV filed this video report from the scene:

At the time of this posting there was no information yet on the cause of the accident.

Contributed by Firehat, Patrick Mahoney.

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Updated reports - One Fatality

Update #1 -scroll down.
Update #2 – more details released.

A FIRETRUCK WAS INVOLVED in a collision with an automobile late Thursday afternoon in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

WGAL-TV

WGAL-TV is reporting:  The crash happened near Holly Pike/Route 34 and Old York Road/Highway 174. Traffic is affected and is being directed around the accident.  Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Michelle Davis said the truck collided with a car, killing the driver of that car. No one in the firetruck was hurt.

There has not yet been disclosure on what fire department's vehicle was involved, or what type of unit it is.

Update #1, 5:30 pm Eastern:
The firetruck was responding to a vehicle fire and passing through an intersection around 4 pm Eastern where the wreck occurred.  The driver of the car was an elderly woman who was killed in the crash.

Update #2:
WGAL-TV is reporting:

State police believe a Ford Freestyle was traveling west on Route 174 approaching the intersection of Route 34. A Mount Holly Springs fire (engine) was traveling north on Route 34 responding to a call for a vehicle fire on Interstate 81. As the fire truck approached the intersection with lights and sirens activated it collided with the Ford, hitting the driver's side of the vehicle and killing the driver of that car.

The driver of the fire engine was transported with unspecified injuries.  Everyone was wearing seatbelts in both vehicles.

WGAL-TV filed this video report:

Hat tip:  Carmine S.

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