Jan 18, 2008 8:03 am US/Eastern
Eight Injured In Queens Fire Engine Accident
Fire Firefighters In Stable Condition In Nearby Hospital
JAMAICA (CBS) ―
-
-
A fire engine collided with a tractor trailer in Queens, injuring nine people, including six firefighters.
Eric Brown/CBS
-
-
A fire engine collided with a tractor trailer in Queens, injuring eight people, including six firefighters. (Photo by CBS 2 Viewer Eric Brown)
Eric Brown/CBS
Some emergency workers needed help of their own following a fire truck accident in Queens on Thursday afternoon.
Five firefighters were among those hurt.
"I heard the siren, then I heard the bang," witness Ronald Thomas said.
Late Thursday night crews towed away the mangled fire truck from Engine Co. 311.
Just after 3 p.m., the fire crew was responding to a call for help with lights and sirens blaring when they found themselves in need of help. Thomas heard the impact from inside his home.
"When I heard a big explosion, a big sound, a big bang," Thomas said. "And I said, 'Wow this is an accident.' It sounded like death."
The fire truck was traveling north on 225th Street in the Laurelton section of Queens when it crossed the path of a truck traveling west on North Conduit. The truck, which was a subcontractor for the U.S. Postal Service slammed into the fire engine, sending it flying off the road.
A yellow cab then crashed into the back of the trailer.
"It's amazing that anybody lived through that at all because like I said the cab of the truck was absolutely pulverized," witness Eric Brown said.
The truck driver is in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital. The five firefighters and the cab driver were all listed in stable condition.
The accident is still under investigation, but police say they don't suspect any criminality was involved.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
