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Permalink Reply by Marilee Thomas on April 21, 2011 at 3:57pm

This really sucks, I feel bad a woman was killed but do people not realize what the big red truck with lights and sirens mean. We have had people not want to get out of the way when responding to calls. I am a volunteer and we put our lives on the line because we want to help our community, it would be nice if citzens would give us a little respect and get out of our way, seconds count in this business and we do our very best to save life and property.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Reinesch on April 21, 2011 at 4:07pm

Just because we drive big red trucks that flash and make noises doesn't mean we get to throw traffic laws out the window. As a driver it is your responsiblity to clear an intersection before passing through it, if it is a red light or a stop sign you must also stop. The lives of your crew are in your hands as well as the other drivers on the road around you. This incident just supports the fact that drivers of fire trucks, and others on the road way, need to be aware of what's going on around them at all times, emergent or not. Secondly, how much life and property were saved here due to not waiting just a few more seconds, it goes both ways, on scene and on the way to and from the scene. Yes seconds count but if we can't make it there what's the difference of few more at a light because someone didn't move for us.

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Permalink Reply by Marilee Thomas on April 21, 2011 at 4:34pm

I agree, we do need to follow the traffic laws just like everyone else, but I have seen it happen more than once that you are clear to go and someone pulls out in front of you, our trucks can't stop on a dime and we are certainly big enough to see. I don't know the full story here and maybe the operator of the truck was at fault, but I am just saying citizens should give us a little bit of respect and pull to the right for sirens and lights. Sorry if I have offended you but as I said I know from experience that some people don't get out of the way for emergency vehicles, and for the most part we do follow traffic laws here but still have problems.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Reinesch on April 21, 2011 at 4:45pm

There was no offense, one bad thing of message boards tones always get placed where they shouldn't, sorry if there was a misunderstanding. Just a few points to be brought up. According to one of the links given above, think it's the fourth one, the vehicle was carried 30-40 meters so it was a fairly big hit. The way it sounds the opticon did not change the light for the truck, the driver was obviously anticipating the change (I'm guessing).

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Permalink Reply by Marilee Thomas on April 21, 2011 at 8:44pm

I live in a small Village so lights are not an issue for us, and at our stop signs we are fortunate enough to be able to see clearly and most times don't have to come to a complete stop, we have had issues where people don't like to pull over and sometimes almost pull out in front of us. As I said we adhere to the traffic laws for the most part although we do tend to go above the speed limit somewhat as I am sure most depts do. My sympathy does go out to the family of woman, I hope the FF does not get to much of a bum rap as I am sure he is paying dearly with guilt, it could also make it harder to maintain truck operators especially in the volunteer sector

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Lyons on April 22, 2011 at 10:32am

It is a terrible thing someone got killed. Sorry to the firefighter who has to live with this also.
It is a huge responsibility to drive our rigs, yes they can go fast, but they are big, heavy, don't stop easily, and don't turn very fast.... DRIVERS NEED TO KNOW THIS, if you break the law you have to answer to it, it is no different if your in your POV. You may ask for the right of way but it is not automatic. If they had the green light the driver wouldn't be in this mess. I do hope he gets cleared of it though, I am sure he has to live with the nightmare of killing someone already.

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