A captain and 10-year veteran with the Watertown Fire Department was
struck by a car late Wednesday night on Mechanic Street, where he had
responded to an emergency call.
Capt. William P. Bragger, 38, of
120 Brown Blvd., Brownville, suffered a possible arm fracture, as well
as cuts and bruises to his head, left hand and wrist in the 11:53 p.m.
accident, according to city police. He was immediately attended to by
Guilfoyle Ambulance attendants, who were apparent witnesses to the
accident, and was transported to Samaritan Medical Center. He was
treated and discharged early Thursday morning.
City fire and
Guilfoyle crews were dispatched at 11:29 p.m. to Midtown Towers, 142
Mechanic St., after a resident in a 10th-floor apartment was reported to
have fallen. The city fire rescue truck parked on the east side of the
street, while an ambulance parked directly across the road, police said,
leaving a narrow passage lane for traffic. Both vehicles were facing
north.
A northbound motorist, William F. Carrigan Jr., 61, of 714
S. Massey St., was making his way through the narrowed lane. Capt.
Bragger, meanwhile, had placed some equipment into the rescue truck, and
then started to cross the street to talk with ambulance personnel,
police said.
Views by the pedestrian and the motorist were
obstructed by the fire rig, police said. When Capt. Bragger stepped out
from in front of the rescue truck, he went into the path of the car, and
upon being struck, was thrown up against the passenger side of the
car’s windshield, police said.
Watertown Fire Chief Dale C. Herman
said Capt. Bragger lost consciousness “at some point,” and when
interviewed at the hospital, had “fuzzy memory” about what occurred.
No summonses were issued. Police listed pedestrian error as cause of the accident.
Promoted
to captain in January 2010, Mr. Bragger joined the department in August
2002. He is enrolled in the paramedic program at Jefferson Community
College, Chief Herman said, and is also a volunteer with the Brownville
Fire Department.
Wednesday’s accident is the second incident in
three weeks involving a city firefighter. A 28-year-old member of the
rescue team collapsed Sept. 24 after responding to an auto accident on
Franklin Street, and was taken to the hospital. The firefighter, not
identified, returned to work after being off duty only three days, Chief
Herman said.
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20121011/NEWS09/710119782
