ROLLOVER APPARATUS CRASH – FIREFIGHTER INJURED IN ARKANSAS
August 22, 2016
Highway 9 is an ordinary Arkansas country road. It has turn after turn but Sunday morning a Choctaw firefighter took a turn for the worse on the state highway.
“My heart just sunk,” says Choctaw Fire Chief Lamar Harvey.
Harvey says his volunteer firefighter was headed to a house fire when he lost control, rolled over multiple times and crashed into a creek. The firefighter was taken to a hospital with only cuts and bruises.
“I knew it was one of my trucks. I don’t want to say disturbing but that’s exactly what it was,” says Harvey.
Former firefighter Steven Strickland says the tanker truck is worth about $160,000 and the department is already working to replace it.
Tanker trucks are like mobile fire hydrants carrying thousands of gallons of water.
“In rural fire departments, fire hydrants are scattered throughout the county. They can be miles apart from one another,” says Strickland.
While the Choctaw Fire Department continues to respond to emergencies, the chief says he would rather be down a truck than a firefighter.
“Everyday, we put our lives on the line for nothing,” says Harvey.
This is a typical rollover accident: the driver is going too fast and he failed to negotiate the curve. The tanker trucks have sloshing water that only allows a less than 0.2 g while taking the curve. Thus, it is very easy to rollover.
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Additional Information
Investigating Officer or Authority
Arkansas State Police
Vehicles Involved
Fire Truck
Road/Highway
Highway 9
Injuries Sustained
Victim was taken to the hospital with cuts and bruises following the accident.
Apparent/Alleged Cause of Accident
Fire truck drove off the side of the road and rolled after losing control.
Full Narrative
Authorities from the Arkansas State Police have not yet confirmed the name of the firefighter that was hurt in a truck accident that happened in Choctaw, AR on August 21st, 2016. Investigators have only said that the truck rolled several times after veering off the side of Highway 9. EMS took the driver to the hospital with minor injuries after the incident.