The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Alleged Drunk Driver Injures 86-Year-Old New Jersey Fire Police Member
WHITE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- An elderly volunteer firefighter was seriously injured early Saturday when a vehicle he was leaning on was hit by an alleged drunken driver.
State police say 86-year-old Charles Christine was helping to direct traffic at an intersection in White Township, where some power lines had come down, when the accident occurred just after midnight in the Warren County community.
Christine, who serves with the Belvidere Fire Police, was leaning against a pickup truck -- parked perpendicular to the roadway with emergency lights on -- when it was struck by a car driven by 23-year-old Daniel Tigue of Blairstown.
Christine was in fair condition at Saint Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa., where he was being treated for head and arm injuries.
Tigue was charged with aggravated assault and drunken driving.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
State police say 86-year-old Charles Christine was helping to direct traffic at an intersection in White Township, where some power lines had come down, when the accident occurred just after midnight in the Warren County community.
Christine, who serves with the Belvidere Fire Police, was leaning against a pickup truck -- parked perpendicular to the roadway with emergency lights on -- when it was struck by a car driven by 23-year-old Daniel Tigue of Blairstown.
Christine was in fair condition at Saint Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa., where he was being treated for head and arm injuries.
Tigue was charged with aggravated assault and drunken driving.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Fire Chick on
-
hope he get better soon..
-
Permalink Reply by Padre Pete on
-
"damn" right again. Granted, anyone could have been leaning against that truck at the time. Whether or not age was a factor here, age is an area where we do need to police ourselves. At 86 he may well have given 68 "active" years to his department and, in spite of all logic to the contrary, nobody wants to be the one to tell him. Shame on them. Maybe this incident will be all the message he needed. Find him an in-house function he can fulfill without being a threat to himself and hold him responsible for it. Like most of us, I'm sure he seeks more to be useful than to be "successful". These must be really rough times for him. My prays are with him.
-
Permalink Reply by Firefighter Nation WebChief on
-
Just to be clear before anyone else attacks the 'elderly' comment...while the AP refers to him as a 'firefighter' he was actually currently a member of the Fire Police, directing traffic and keeping the scene secure. Some departments may not be familiar with this role, but it is typically something long time members of the fire department do after their time 'fighting fires' is no longer viable. Just saying 'what the hell is an 86 year old doing in the fire department' isn't based on what actually happened here, nor does it have anything to do with career or volunteer. Pay your respects...the person was struck by an alleged drunk driver doing something to help his community. He was doing an 'in house' function he could fulfill most likely.
-
Permalink Reply by Anthony Bernal on
-
My prayers are with him to have a speedy recovery!
-
Permalink Reply by chris jarvis on
-
seems to me your more worried about the guys age and not his health/injuries. i bet your well liked in your dept.i hope you get better charles.
-
-
Hi Chief, I meant no attack on elderly. My concern is for departments like my own that allow the elderly eager to be in life threatening positions at emergencys. For over 48 years I've watched older members go into a sort of retirement mode by serving as Fire Police. The reality is that some have actually became real threats to the lives they thought they were serving. In driving our ambulance from an MVA scene to the hospital, I once encountered a "Fire Police Officer" on a walker in the middle of the highway. He was the last one in the intersection to know I was approaching. We bit the bullet. He was grounded. Today, in this county, their tasks require a lot more technical training and know-how than they once did. Thats a good thing. At 66, I am aware of my limitations and have eliminate myself from those activities I just dont feel sharp about. We all have that responsibility. Dont we?
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
