A dozen New York City firefighters were injured in a municipal work injury incident over the weekend when two trucks rushing to a gas leak collided at a Brooklyn intersection.
Witnesses described a horrific collision between Ladder Company No. 107 and Engine Company No. 236, according to Newsday, which reported the driver of one of the fire engines was trapped in the overturned truck as a result of the Saturday morning incident.
The 9:43 a.m. accident at the corner of Ashford Street and Hegeman Avenue in the East New York Neighborhood caused the ladder truck to flip onto its side and slide into a tree, trapping the driver for two hours as dozens of emergency personnel worked to free him. The engine rolled over a curb and onto a front lawn.
A witness reported the engine was headed west on Hegeman Avenue when it hit the rear of the ladder truck, which was northbound on Ashford.
All 12 firefighters on the two trucks required medical attention. Four were seriously hurt, and eight had less serious injuries, according to an FDNY spokesman.
The driver of the ladder truck remained trapped until noon and a 27-year veteran of the department suffered a possible broken leg, according to fire officials. Both were taken to
Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in serious condition.
A fire department spokesman said both trucks were responding with lights and sirens to a gas leak on Warwick Street, one block west of the crash site. The stations are located about a mile from each other and within a mile and a half of the crash site.
The New York City work injury lawyers at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool have spent decades fighting for the rights of injured New York City fireman, police officers, sanitation workers and other injured New York City employees. If you have been injured on the job in New York City, call 212-406-1700 for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.
