Florida Highway Patrol says the driver of a fire truck that T-boned a car Tuesday night failed to yield after attempting to clear an intersection while responding to a fire call.
Police say they typically do not cite first responders involved in accidents while responding to a call. But, they told WEAR, first responders do have a responsibility not to hit other vehicles while responding to an emergency.
“We’re saying ‘hey, we’re here’ with our lights and sirens. We know we have a red light, we’re requesting to proceed through the intersection, and we have to make sure as we clear each lane of travel — including the crosswalks — that there’s no pedestrian traffic or vehicle traffic going,” FHP Lt. Jason King told WEAR.
In Tuesday’s accident, Escambia Fire-Rescue was responding to a fire when the crash occurred at North W Street and Mobile Highway at about 9 p.m. A 42-year-old Mobile man was taken to the hospital with injuries suffered in the crash.
No firefighters were injured. The county is investigating the crash.
