RSSFire Truck and Ambulance Collide in Miami
A fire truck and an ambulance collided Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Northwest 12th Avenue and Northwest 14th Street in Miami. Both vehicles were working calls at the time and had their sirens and lights on at the time of the accident. The impact of the crash tore off the front of the ambulance and put the heavy fire truck on its side. A total of seven firefighters, four from the fire truck and three from the ambulance, were rushed to area hospitals. Two children and their grandmother, who were all being transported in the ambulance were also injured in the crash.
A third vehicle was also involved in the wreck, a car that was hit when the fire truck spun out of control. The two occupants of the vehicle were also taken to the hospital, making a total of twelve people who were transported with serious injuries.
This accident highlights the importance of staying alert at all times behind the wheel. Hearing sirens and observing flashing lights should be an obvious cue for motorist to pull over and give emergency vehicles the right of way. But emergency responders need to pay attention to their surroundings also. The loud noise from any siren is sure to deafen anyone up close to it, and firefighters and emergency personnel are required to wear protective equipment to shield them from hearing loss that may accompany exposure to loud noises they experience on the job. It is very likely that diminished hearing contributed to Tuesday’s accident. It was not reported whether speed of either vehicle was a factor in the crash.
Clearly, all of Tuesday’s emergency responders were on their way to help victims of other incidents and were unfortunately involved in an accident of their own. The occupants of the ambulance had already experienced one incident, and were forced to face a second. The occupants of the vehicle that was struck by the fire truck were in the wrong place at the wrong time. One incident negatively affected the lives of many people, though the individuals involved are normally the first to help in the event of an accident.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident involving emergency response vehicles, please contact the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.