SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio's fire chief has suspended three firefighters for traveling too fast and not buckling up while racing to a fire.


The firefighters were involved in a wreck last year that injured one of the four men on a ladder truck and destroyed the $600,000 vehicle.

Fire Chief Charles Hood said he's disciplining the three to send a strong message to his department about the importance of always fastening their seatbelts.

"It is a wake-up call," the chief told the San Antonio Express-News.

Firefighter Brandon Wheeler, 29, was driving to a structure fire on Nov. 14 when the truck rolled on its side during a left turn and came to a stop in oncoming traffic lanes. Police said speed caused the crash. The truck was going 33 mph into the turn.

"It was a surreal experience for me, looking at that truck upside-down," Hood said. "I thought, 'Man, I'm glad they had their seat belts on,' and as it turned out, they didn't."

Capt. Larry Schultz, 59, received the harshest penalty, a 60-day suspension because the crew was his responsibility. Wheeler was suspended for 45 days, and Brad Phipps, 31, for five days.

Robert Arranaga, 30, wasn't suspended. His first day at the station was the day of the crash. Arranaga suffered a broken neck and remains on medical leave.

As a result of the crash, the department has mandatory seat belt drills, drivers get additional training and all 1,674 operations employees were ordered to view the demolished fire truck. The cab will be displayed at the training academy.

The chief said crashes account for 20 percent of on-duty firefighter deaths nationwide.

___

Information from: San Antonio Express-News, http://www.mysanantonio.com

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.