First Due | Fire & EMS Gear: More Pictures

SC Wreck "Details"

SEAT BELTS save lives! See the attached photographs showing the heart
stopping images of a fire truck wreck in South Carolina. This event
occurred on a non emergency response about 7:00 PM on a clear sunny day. This was a
four door International cab with only two firefighters. They were very
lucky. Ed Roper From the investigating trooper, the truck was traveling at approximately
the speed limit, but the driver has been cited for going too fast for
conditions. There is a question about new tires that may have caused a
problem with control of the truck. Here is an overview of what happened.
The day before this event four new tires were installed on the Engine 's rear
wheels. Station personnel reported that the truck seemed to 'sway' after
the new tires were installed. The next day two firefighters took the truck
to Fleet Services to have the problem investigated. Tire pressures were
checked and a lose valve stem was tightened. When returning to the Station
the wheels on the right side of the truck went off the pavement and into the
ditch. In pulling back onto the pavement, the truck rolled. As you can see
from the photographs, the truck was demolished and the officer side roof
collapsed.
Fortunately, both were wearing their seatbelts and remained inside the cab.
One firefighter was able to climb out of the wreckage and assisted the
second one out. The radios were not operable, so one used his cell phone to
call for assistance. Both firefighters were transported to the hospital.
They were severely banged up and have injuries that will require
recuperation, but they were both released from the hospital early the day
after the accident.
Although this was a very serious accident, there are several factors that
helped to lessen its severity:
* No other vehicle was involved in the accident.
* The truck rolled in the roadway and did not strike the trees on the
left-hand side of the road.
* Although the roof collapsed on one side, the doors of the cab remained
closed.
* Both firefighters were wearing their seatbelts. This prevented them
from
being ejected or more severely tossed around in the cab.