• 03
  • February
    2012

When the driver of Chicago Fire Engine Number 62 saw a car stopped, he or she assumed it had stopped from the fire truck. Unfortunately, the driver started driving again and moved the car right in front of the fire engine, making it impossible for the truck to avoid causing a car accident. Now, the 18-year-old driver has been charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence, but prosecutors are looking to increase the charge to a felony.

Despite the size of the fire engine, several of the firefighters were injured in the accident. Four firefighters were taken to MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island and were admitted in good condition. Luckily, all the passengers in the 18-year-old's sedan were not fatally injured, but the car was crushed and caved in.

One of the passengers broke her neck in the accident, but it appears that she will survive the accident. The four other passengers were also rushed to the hospital, but fortunately hospital staff determined no one was seriously injured.

It is incredibly irresponsible to drink and drive and this story shows just how many people can be hurt because someone makes the bad choice to drive while intoxicated. Even though the nine victims were not fatally injured in this accident, it is possible that many of them will have to pay for expensive emergency medical care, they may not be able to work while they are recovering and they may suffer long-term effects from the accident. Should any of these problems arise, it should not be their responsibility to pay these costs, but rather the 18-year-old who caused their injuries.

Source: Chicago Tribune, "Man charged with drunken driving in fire truck crash," Feb. 1, 2012