Speed, no seat belt use and driver distraction were the causes of a crash that killed FF David E. Remington, 58, in the Line of Duty on Jan. 3, 2011 in Maine. The crash was investigated by the York County Sheriff’s office.
Remington, a Shapleigh (Maine) Firefighter, was responding to a rescue call at about 2200 hours that night when he lost control of his personal vehicle, a 2005 Chevrolet 1500 pick-up truck about one mile from Route 109, in Shapleigh. The truck rolled, struck two trees and came to rest on the passenger’s side in a ditch. FF Remington was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and at some point he was ejected from his vehicle-he was DOA at the scene.
There was no evidence or indication that Remington was impaired at the time of the accident, nor was there evidence of mechanical failure. The accident was reconstructed by law enforcement who concluded that FF Remington had become distracted for some unknown reason while rounding a gradual corner. The vehicle was traveling between 59 and 67 mph when it left the road, in an area posted for 45 mph. FF Remington was a retired career Firefighter for the City of Portland and had been an active Volunteer Firefighter for the Shapleigh Fire Department for four years at the time of the accident.
Another tragic reminder about the critical and mandatory use of seat belts as well and controlling the vehicle-car, ambulance or apparatus when responding.
