SAINT ALBANS TOWN, Vt. — A five-car collision on Interstate 89 on Tuesday afternoon left a St. Albans Town fire truck heavily damaged, underscoring concerns about safety on the roads.
The crash, which occurred just after 5 p.m., began as a routine dispatch to a two-car accident but quickly escalated, placing the fire department’s crew at risk.
Fire Chief Matt Mulheron explained that as the crew was preparing to assist, another vehicle struck the fire truck.
“Two cars started to move at the same time. One car struck the other car into our rescue truck as the guys were getting out of the truck,” said Mulheron. The collision caused significant damage to the bottom corner of the truck’s door and the side of its hood.
Chief Mulheron emphasized the critical need to slow down when approaching emergency vehicles on the road, a message he hopes will prevent similar incidents in the future.
“What you think is a routine call, and then a car hits you—suddenly it’s not routine. It becomes a safety issue. People need to slow down. I know everyone’s in a hurry, but lives are at risk. It’s a big safety concern,” he said.
Fortunately, none of the fire department’s crew members were injured in the incident.
