Thursday, February 28, 2008

An out-of-control semi truck slammed into the back of Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue command vehicle on Interstate 70 Monday.

Officials said Battalion Chief Kelly Wagner parked his vehicle with all emergency lights on per protocol. He was positioned on the far right side of the west-bound lane of I-70 near the west Frisco exit while responding to an accident.

Wagner "heard the driver laying on the horn, letting everyone know he was coming in sideways." He jumped out of the way and avoided getting hit.

"It was the closest call I’ve ever had on the interstate, that is for sure," Wagner said in a prepared statement.

The semi crashed into his vehicle and then pushed it into the other vehicles involved in the original accident. All the victims of the original accident had already been moved to safety.

Soon after the semi crashed into the fire vehicle, a Colorado State Patrol trooper approached the scene and also lost control on the ice, crashing into the driver’s door of the Wagner’s vehicle.

"Thankfully, no one was killed in this incident," Brandon Williams with Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue said. "LDFR hopes this incident serves as a reminder to everyone to simply slow down on the Interstate, particularly when there are emergency responders trying to help others in trouble."


This story was copied from www.firefighterclosecalls.com