Cops continue to look for the cause of a fire truck crash Wednesday morning that sent three city firefighters to the hospital, including one who suffered serious injuries.
It’s uncertain if the fire truck can be salvaged; replacing it could cost as much as $500,000. Assistant Fire Chief Randy Villines heard about the crash when one of the firefighters in the truck, which was en route to a training exercise, called it in. Villines expressed gratitude that the accident wasn’t worse.
"We are very blessed for it being an accident during rush hour in that there was no one else around the fire apparatus," Villines said. "It could have been much worse, but no other parties were injured, and no other vehicles were involved."
The one-vehicle crash occurred around 8:12 a.m. when a fire engine overturned and ended up on its side in the northbound lane of U.S. 65, just south of the Battlefield Road exit.
The driver, whose name was not released, suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. An accident report was not yet available. The two other firefighters riding in the truck, Tim Hendrix and Alex Hodge, suffered minor injuries and are in good condition, according to a news release from the city of Springfield.
All three firefighters were wearing safety belts, according to the news release.
Traffic was rerouted for about two hours while crews worked the crash.
Villines said the firefighter who was driving has 18 years experience with the fire department. He has been stationed at Station 11, 4940 S. Fremont Ave., for several years, so he was experienced driving in the area and driving the engine, said Villines.
Villines said the Springfield Fire Department will consider bringing in an outside consultant, like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, to review the accident. Having an outside group look at a crash is not required, but it is considered a good practice because it can uncover unexpected factors, such as the possibility that a part on the vehicle was recalled, Villines said. Knowing if there is something wrong with the vehicle is important so the department can check other vehicles in the fleet, he added.
The vehicle was approaching the end of its "front-line" life, which is about 15 years. After that time period, the vehicle would become a backup vehicle — one used when the front-line vehicle is unavailable. As a backup vehicle, a fire engine usually lasts another five years.
A mechanic is assessing if the engine can be fixed and reused.
Sheila Maerz, the city’s director of human resources and risk management, said her department is reviewing its auto insurance coverage and property coverage to determine what might be covered. The property policy does allow some coverage for fire apparatus, she said.
Cpl. Matt Brown of the Springfield Police Department said he did not know how long it might take for investigators in the Springfield Police Department to determine a cause of the accident.
