A Stamford Fire & Rescue engine was hit by a tractor-trailer while extinguishing a vehicle fire near Exit 8 Southbound on Interstate-95 early Monday morning.
Firefighters from the downtown and Glenbrook stations had put out the fire and were loading the vehicle onto a flatbed when a tractor-trailer struck the rear of the engine at a high speed at 1:28 a.m., causing "severe damage," according to the fire department.
A state trooper on the scene was struck by debris and treated at Stamford Hospital. There was no other injuries in the incident.
There was damage to the cab and trailer of the tractor-trailer, according to fire officials.
I-95 was shut down for about one hour southbound during cleanup.
Stamford Fire Rescue Engine 1 was struck at approx. 02:30 this morning while operating on Interstate 95 south near Exit 7 (downtown Stamford Exit). Both Engine 1 and Engine 6 were positioned for protection and operating at a vehicle fire. Engine 6 had just cleared the scene and E1 was waiting on a wrecker for the vehicle fire.
Connecticut State Police had secured the left travel lane for through traffic when without warning a tractor-trailer veered from the lane and came in contact with Engine 1.
Fortunately, the four personnel assigned to Engine 1 were NOT injured. However, a Connecticut State Police Officer working at the scene was injured when flying debris from E1 struck him.
The driver of E1 had just walked from the impact spot after stowing some equipment. Seconds earlier and he would have been in front of the rear compartment or the pump panel.
Just thought that some of you guys may be able to use the photos for your safety operations dealing with the Interstate.
This is the reason why we place the big red truck between the oncoming traffic and ourselves!
Had Engine 1 pulled past the scene or been positioned differently, this easily could have been a multiple Fire Fighter injury or fatality.
