SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — A Spokane Valley firetruck was hit by an out of control driver over the weekend while responding to a crash near I-90 and Sullivan Road.
No firefighters were hurt and the woman who lost control and slammed into the ladder truck suffered only minor injuries. The Spokane Valley Fire Department said it could be a few months before the truck can return to service. They brought in a reserve truck for now.
The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, January 20. The eastbound lands of I-90 were extremely icy. Spokane Valley Fire Ladder 10 was driving out to a burst pipe call when they noticed two cars slide off. They went to investigate and make sure the drivers were alright. Then, as they were about to clear the scene, another car lost control and slammed into the back of the ladder truck.
"We were literally 20 feet from the apparatus walking up and we saw this car lose control," SVFD Provisional Captain Dave Griffiths said. "My engineer yelled, 'She's going to hit the truck!' We both stood there and watched. She came in at a high rate of speed just sideways, there's nothing she can do, stuck the back of the truck and it was a huge explosion. The patient in the ditch, she was emotional from the first accident, she became very emotional now after just hearing that."
The fire department said this incident serves as an important reminder. Divers need to slow down and move over whenever they see first responders on the road. It's also state law.
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