A Moneta Volunteer Fire Department fire truck was involved in an accident while responding to a call around 3 p.m. Sunday, July 2.
The fire truck was traveling eastbound with lights and siren activated, when an approaching vehicle failed to yield to the emergency vehicle around the block of 1900 Chestnut Fork Rd.
The driver of the fire engine avoided striking the oncoming red Ford F-150 pick-up truck and ran off the right-side of the road where there was an eight-foot drop to a creek.
The fire truck stopped on the top edge of the embankment with its right-side tires over the edge.
Moneta VFD Chief Jeremiah Calhoun said, “my driver did exactly as trained and as I would expect. He took evasive action to avoid striking the other vehicle.”
There was no contact between the two vehicles and the red F-150 stopped briefly, but then continued on.
Chief Calhoun said that the driver of the fire truck, along with one firefighter, were transported to Bedford Memorial Hospital as a precaution and were released later that afternoon.
A video camera recorded the entire event from the fire truck, which was reviewed and said that speed was not a factor on the part of the fire truck.
The extent of damage to the fire truck is undetermined at this time.
The Moneta VFD was heading to a crash near the intersection of Headens Bridge Road and Rock Cliff Road, where a pick-up truck of similar description had run someone off the road.
The Virginia State Police are investigating both incidents.
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BEDFORD, Va. (WSET) -- The Bedford Fire Marshal said it's office is investigating after a Moneta Volunteer Fire Dept. fire truck was involved in a motor vehicle accident while on the way to a call around 3:20 p.m. Sunday.
Jeff Pauley wrote that the fire truck was traveling eastbound near the 1900 block of Chestnut Fork Rd. with lights and sirens activated.
He said while approaching that road, a vehicle failed to yield to the emergency vehicle.
The driver of the fire truck was forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting the oncoming red Ford F-150 pickup truck and ran off the right side of the road where there was about an eight foot drop to a creek.
Luckily, the fire truck stopped on the top edge of the embankment with its right side tires over the edge.
Pauley said the F-150 briefly stopped, but then continued.
There was no contact between the two vehicles.
Pauley said the fire truck was equipped with a video camera that recorded the entire event.
The firefighters were headed to a crash near the intersection of Headens Bridge Rd. and Rock Cliff Rd., where Pauley said a similar pickup truck had run someone off the road.
State Police are now investigating both incidents.
The Moneta Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Jeremiah Calhoun said the driver did exactly as trained and took evasive action to avoid hitting another vehicle.
Chief Calhoun said the driver of the fire truck and along with one firefighter were taken to Bedford Memorial Hospital as a precaution. They were released later that afternoon.
After viewing the video, Chief Calhoun said speed was not a factor on the part of the fire truck.
The extent of damage to the fire truck is undetermined, according to Chief Calhoun, pending an inspection of the frame.