GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A suspected drunk driver took out a fire truck on US-131 in Grand Rapids in the early morning hours of election day.
Emergency crews were on scene of a crash on southbound US-131 on Tuesday around 1:30 a.m. when Utility Truck 2 was hit from behind. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for operating while intoxicated.
Utility Truck 2 is a specialized vehicle that tows a trailer with a light arrow on it to help protect firefighters responding to incidents on the highway. The impact completely destroyed the trailer.
Luckily the driver of Utility Truck 2 was not hurt.
“This incident could have ended in tragedy,” said Jack Johnson, Deputy Fire Chief of the Grand Rapids Fire Department. “Our attenuator vehicle is a crucial safety device, specifically designed to absorb impacts and protect our personnel and equipment. While we’re relieved no one was seriously injured, this serves as a sobering reminder of the risks our fire crews face daily.”
