Our department responded to a motor vehicle accident during the early morning hours of February 7, 2011. A dense fog created slick road conditions. Our engine, “Engine 91”, was stationed in the roadway to block any oncoming traffic. Once it was determined there were no life threatening injuries, Engine 91 was released and preceded around the accident scene. As the engine crossed in front of the parked ambulance and began pulling into the proper lane, a semi whose trailer was sliding out of control, struck the side of Engine 91, forcing it into the ditch. Fortunately, no one was injured. Had the engine not passed around the accident scene at that precise moment, the semi would have struck the ambulance head on, possible causing severe injuries to the Paramedics and the patient. I thought this incident was important enough to share. It is a reminder of the dangers Fire Departments are faced with when managing emergencies on our roadways.
Note: All safety measures were in place and the semi was only traveling about 15 mph, but was loaded with books and magazines. My members did a great job managing the incident.
