July 22, 2001

Firefighters survive close call

       A sturdy tree probably saved four White River Township firefighters from serious injury after the truck swerved to miss an oncoming vehicle.  The accident Thursday afternoon sent three firefighters to Community Hospital South for treatment and put a fire engine out of commission. The driver of the other vehicle didn’t stop after the accident and hasn’t been located.  Fire Marshal Eric Brown said the accident could have been worse if the 35,000-pound fire truck had rolled over.  “I think if that tree wasn’t there, the truck would have rolled over,” he said.  Driver Matt Partain, Lt. Nick Afford and Cadet Chris Polanco were treated and released after the accident.  Firefighter Mike Schilling wasn’t injured.  The accident happened about 2:48 p.m. when the crew was driving back to the fire station at State Road 37 and Smith Valley Road after an emergency run.  Partain told investigators that he edged the fire truck closer to the north side of Stones Crossing Road after seeing an oncoming vehicle hugging the yellow line.  The wheels of the fire engine began to slip over the steep side, pulling the truck off the road about 300 feet west of Morgan- town Road, Deputy Kerry Hamilton said.  All of the fire personnel were wearing seat belts when the engine struck a tree, which snapped in two.  Brown said the department isn’t sure if the $275,000 truck can be repaired. The pipes running to the water pump were damaged when the truck hit the tree, he said. The company appraising the damaged fire truck has given the fire department another truck to use.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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