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NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation: Virginia Chief, Firefighter Killed; Ejected During Apparatus Rollover
NIOSH
The NIOSH Firefighter Fatality and Prevention Program has released the investigative report of a Virginia volunteer chief and firefighter killed after being ejected from a rollover crash in 2010.
On July 26, 2010, a 59-year-old male volunteer fire chief (victim 1) and a 67-year-old male volunteer fire fighter (victim 2) died from injuries sustained after they were ejected when their engine was involved in a crash and rolled over.
The engine, with its lights and siren activated, was responding to a mutual aid residential structure fire. The crash occurred when the engine entered an intersection with a red light and was struck by a sport utility vehicle. The engine rolled over and both victims were ejected.
Victim 1 was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Victim 2 was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both victims were reported to not be wearing their seat belts.
Contributing Factors
Key Recommendations
Additionally, states, municipalities, and authorities having jurisdiction should
Fire apparatus manufacturers, researchers, and standard setting bodies should
The NIOSH Firefighter Fatality and Prevention Program has released the investigative report of a Virginia volunteer chief and firefighter killed after being ejected from a rollover crash in 2010.
Read the Report:
Volunteer Chief and Fire Fighter Die After Being Ejected
Related
Fire Truck Tragedy in Rocky Mount, Virginia
Volunteer Chief and Fire Fighter Die After Being Ejected
Related
Fire Truck Tragedy in Rocky Mount, Virginia
On July 26, 2010, a 59-year-old male volunteer fire chief (victim 1) and a 67-year-old male volunteer fire fighter (victim 2) died from injuries sustained after they were ejected when their engine was involved in a crash and rolled over.
The engine, with its lights and siren activated, was responding to a mutual aid residential structure fire. The crash occurred when the engine entered an intersection with a red light and was struck by a sport utility vehicle. The engine rolled over and both victims were ejected.
Victim 1 was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Victim 2 was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both victims were reported to not be wearing their seat belts.
Contributing Factors
- Nonuse of seat belts.
- Failure of the motorist to yield the right-of-way to an approaching emergency vehicle with audible and visual signals in use.
- Failure to ensure that all approaching vehicles had yielded the right-of-way before advancing through an intersection.
- Use of an older apparatus with minimal safety features.
- Lack of intersection control device on emergency vehicle and traffic light.
Key Recommendations
- Ensure that written standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding seat belt use are established and enforced.
- Ensure that fire fighters use extreme caution while responding through intersections by coming to a full stop before entering a negative right-of-way intersection (red light, flashing red light, or stop sign) and by accounting for all lanes of traffic before proceeding through the intersection.
- Consider upgrading, retiring, or replacing older fire apparatus.
- Consider rollover protection for the crew areas of fire apparatus when upgrading or purchasing new apparatus.
Additionally, states, municipalities, and authorities having jurisdiction should
- Take steps to ensure that motorists are aware of, understand, and follow state traffic codes/laws pertaining to yielding the right-of-way to approaching, authorized emergency vehicles using audible and visual signals.
- Consider the use of intersection control devices on emergency vehicles and selected traffic lights.
Fire apparatus manufacturers, researchers, and standard setting bodies should
- Continue to improve fire apparatus safety standards and designs for increased crashworthiness of compartments for fire fighter survivability in rollover crashes.
- Continue to evaluate apparatus seating and seat belt design to ensure that riding positions and seat belts are comfortable and effective for fire fighters wearing personal protective equipment.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gregory Borg on
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It goes on and on. No seat belts equal dead people.
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Permalink Reply by Melisa Thompson on
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This was a horrific accident which could have been prevented by many things. One being the seatbelts. Another is going thru a red light. However, what this story does not mention is the fact that the driver in the vehicle that struck the fire engine had the radio cranked wide open and was not able to hear anything. Also, it does not mention that the fire engine was coming down off a hill and the momentum of the water was already in motion. I think before anyone else comments on this, PLEASE get all the facts. Again, please remember that we lost 2 excellent life time heros. They dedicated their lives to helping save others and for that reason alone should have all of our respect and the families should not have to see stupid comments.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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However, what this story does not mention is the fact that the driver in the vehicle that struck the fire engine had the radio cranked wide open and was not able to hear anything
Actually it does Melisa, in the contributing factors, this is mentioned: Failure of the motorist to yield the right-of-way to an approaching emergency vehicle with audible and visual signals in use.
it does not mention that the fire engine was coming down off a hill and the momentum of the water was already in motion
No, it does not mention this verbatum, but does mention these other factors:
Failure to ensure that all approaching vehicles had yielded the right-of-way before advancing through an intersection.
Use of an older apparatus with minimal safety features.
Lack of intersection control device on emergency vehicle and traffic light.
Yes, momemtum can be built up especially when coming down a hill, but does lead to the question of going too fast then? We can't say for sure, but there is no mention that the brakes were faulty, so while momentum and water weight can be contributing factors, the speed is also a factor as well. Having intersection control devices could have led to the lights changing prior to the engine approaching. Minimal safety features on the rig could be any number of things.
PLEASE get all the facts.
Considering this is an article about the NIOSH report, one should be able to conclude that all the known facts are presented. Yes, there will be things where speculation will be like I mentioned, but really the facts are known. The issue with some of the comments here is that it was a spinoff from another thread regarding the use of lights. Another simple fact is there have been many, many firefighters lose their lives because they did not buckle up and you have seen some comments about that.
While this may be tough for you personally and you may see some of the comments as harsh, I don't see the comments as directed at the incident itself, but generally speaking. It is because of such incidents we can learn from mistakes of others, but unfortunately we have seen such reports don't always get the point home and I think that is the reasoning for some comments.
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The audible and visual signs in use is referring to the fire engine, not the SUV which struck the fire engine.
The fire engine was almost thru the intersection and was struck in the rear by the vehicle. Therefore I believe had the SUV been paying attention to what was in front of it, this accident could have been prevented.
I understand what you are saying and Yes it is tough but the incident itself still contains personal issues and the lack of disrespect for family members seems rather harsh.
This incident has prompted our county to raise money for all red lights to have intersection control devices. Hopefully, this will help diminish the likelihood of incidents like this in the future.
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Melisa, having been around the fire service for a while the part I cannot believe is that people still do not wear their seat belts. FF die all the time from not wearing them. So if we seem harsh in our comments it is like John said, it is not just about the crash in this story but that it keeps happening. No one will listen, but they do get mad when we say these guys should have had their seat belts on and THEY direguarded the feelings of their families and friends when they decided to kill themselves by not wearing their seat belts. They are the ones that should be scolded, they did it to themselves. And again so you do not misunderstand, I am talking about all the FF that have been killed because they did not buckle up.
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The audible and visual signs in use is referring to the fire engine, not the SUV which struck the fire engine
I was referring to the "failure to yield" portion, which is all encompassing. It doesn't matter if the radio was at full blast, the driver was on a cell phone, looking elsewhere, eating, or what have you, the person failed to yield.
The fire engine was almost thru the intersection and was struck in the rear by the vehicle. Therefore I believe had the SUV been paying attention to what was in front of it, this accident could have been prevented.
It is possible, however, part of driving with Due Regard is to stop at all red lights, stop signs, etc, even if responding lights and siren. This means you stop at a red light and ensure that cross traffic is stopped before proceeding through. Just because lights and sirens are on doesn't mean you can blast through an intersection either.
I understand what you are saying and Yes it is tough but the incident itself still contains personal issues and the lack of disrespect for family members seems rather harsh.
The issue isn't about lack of respect, but such an issue does come at the interpretation of the reader as well. The facts are the facts here and despite how good these guys may have been, the harsh reality is they did screw up. With such reports like this, it helps to view such reports as those who did die to be telling others to learn from their mistakes. Is the reality harsh? Yes, it is, but it is sometimes the best way to get the point across to sink in to others.
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Permalink Reply by Tracey Lynn Morris on
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Well put. Melissa We have to learn from each other thats what this is. I was in a head on collision 7 years ago had it not been for a seat belt I would not be here. These are safety reminders none of us want to disrespect anyone we just want everyone to learn from this and move on.
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Permalink Reply by Paul on
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My point of view is that it is the driver/engineer's ultimate responsibility to assure that the apparatus and his crew arrive in a safe and orderly manner. In our department it is in our S.O.P's that the driver/engineer is soley responsible to make sure all of our brothers/sisters are seat and belted in before the apparatus EVEN leaves the station. It also states in our S.O.P's that when approaching an intersection and the light is RED or GREEN we must come to a complete stop and assure that the intersection is clear before we proceed. When our apparatus is responding to a call or mutual aide we utilize the officer that is in the command seat as an extra pair of eyes to assure that the intersection is clear and safe to proceed. SEAT BELTS do save lives!!! Unfortunately these 2 brothers lost their lives when in all practicality they might be alive today if SEAT BELTS were worn. Rest in peace Brothers!!
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Permalink Reply by joemac on
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"Both victims were reported to not be wearing their seat belts."
Well, that's just plain old stupid.
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