Brownwood Fire Department’s Rescue 1 was damaged in a collision while they were responding to an emergency medical call early Sunday morning and officials remind the public to stay their distance for safety’s sake.
According to Brownwood Assistant Fire Chief Grady Shuey, the accident happened just after midnight on Sunday morning when Rescue 1 was dispatched to a medical call. As the truck pulled out onto Austin Avenue from Fire Station 1, they noted a pickup at the traffic light and were able to pull in front of it to travel toward the emergency, said Shuey. The pickup continued to follow Rescue 1 down Austin Avenue and as Rescue 1 attempted to make a wide right turn on Avenue C, the pickup was following too close to stop and began to skid, striking the right side of the fire truck, explained Shuey.
Although they have not been able to get a professional repair bid, the damage is estimated at approximately $2000 according to Shuey.
One of the rollup doors on the right side of the vehicle was crushed in by the collision and firemen were unable to open the door to get to the equipment they needed for the call, Shuey said. Luckily, they were able to access the equipment from the inside of the vehicle and attend to the patient.
The driver of the pickup was given a citation for Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle and for Failure to Control Speed, Shuey said.
“Give emergency vehicles plenty of room,” reminded Shuey. “Those red lights and sirens are there for a reason. Large trucks have to make wide right turns.”
Although accidents like this don’t happen too often, officials do want to remind the public to be cautious around any emergency vehicle, whether fire, police or ambulance.
Pictured at top is Shuey looking at the damaged rescue truck at Brownwood Fire Station #1.
