FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A firefighter is among those recovering from minor injuries after the driver of a sedan crashed into a fire truck while it was parked at the scene of a crash on southbound Interstate 5 Sunday morning in south King County.
The collision happened around 6 a.m. in Federal Way, while emergency crews were responding to an earlier rollover DUI crash.
The driver of the sedan reportedly fell asleep at the wheel before striking the fire truck. Both the firefighter and the driver were taken to the hospital, but are expected to be okay, according to officials.
“One firefighter that was in the driver’s seat of the fire truck,” said WSP Trooper Rick Johnson in a phone interview.
Washington State Patrol troopers say no arrests have been made, and there was no indication of criminal behavior. The fire engine sustained heavy damage and will be out of commission until repairs can be made.
“Essentially, we figured out they most likely fell asleep,” Johnson said. “We want to make sure that people understand drowsy driving is, you know, dangerous, if not just as dangerous as impaired driving.”
With shorter days and darker commutes ahead, troopers are urging drivers to be mindful of fatigue behind the wheel. Research shows that young drivers and shift workers are particularly at risk for falling asleep while driving.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that losing four or more hours of sleep can cause impairment similar to driving over the legal blood alcohol content limit. Experts recommend at least seven hours of quality sleep before getting behind the wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving contributes to an estimated 100,000 crashes and more than 71,000 injuries each year.
