Editor’s note: This story underscores the continued need for all fire departments to focus attention on the safe operation of emergency vehicles. Every year in the United States, a number of firefighters are killed, and many more injured, in vehicle-related incidents. Most of these deaths and injuries are preventable by slowing down; stopping at red lights, stop signs, and in negative right-of-way situations; wearing seatbelts; thorough driver training; proper vehicle maintenance; and ongoing driving practice under both emergency and non-emergency conditions.
Fire department water tenders (tankers) are particularly challenging to drive and were the subject of a special report by the United States Fire Administration. This report can be downloaded from the USFA website and should be required reading for any fire department operating this specialized type of fire apparatus. Chief Adam K. Thiel, FireRescue1 Editorial Advisor
By Dalton Gregory
Tarkington Volunteer Fire Department
TARKINGTON, Texas — Shortly after 4 p.m. Monday evening, Tarkington firefighters were dispatched to the type of call that haunts every firefighter’s nightmares: a fire truck has been involved in an accident.
Tarkington and Cleveland firefighters were already on the scene of a barn fire on CR 2291 when their pagers went off for a motor vehicle accident involving a fire truck on CR 2285 near CR 2286. Tarkington Fire Chief Paul Gregory immediately detached Cleveland E44 along with Cleveland Assistant Chief Melvin Cates to respond to the accident while additional Tarkington units responded from the station.
Units arrived on scene to find that Cypress Lakes Tanker 821 had left the roadway and rolled over, ejecting the driver.
The driver, 22-year old Clayton Evans, had sustained very serious injuries. He was transported by City of Cleveland EMS to a landing zone at Tarkington High School where he was then airlifted to Hermann Memorial Hospital in Houston. As of Tuesday morning, Evans had fractured vertebrae, a broken leg, and multiple facial fractures and was scheduled for surgery. However, he did have feeling and mobility in his extremities and was alert and conscious.
The preliminary investigation indicates Evans lost control after exiting a curve in the road and overcorrected before the truck left the road and rolled over.
CR 2285 was shut down for several hours as Texas Department of Public Safety troopers investigated the accident and the wreck was cleared away.