Update: No Charges to be Filed in Fire Engine Crash
Two women and four Lawrence Township volunteer firefighters were hurt when a car collided with a Slackwood Volunteer Fire Co. engine that was responding to a fire.
Photos
Editor's Note: The following update was published at 2:45 p.m., Feb. 28.
Lawrence Township police have concluded their investigation into the Feb. 22 collision at Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) and Texas Avenue involving a car and a township fire engine that was responding to an emergency call.
“We have investigated the circumstances surrounding the accident and at this point no charges are being filed against either driver,” police department spokesman Lt. Charles Edgar said today (Feb. 28).
Editor's Note: The following update was published at 5 p.m., Feb. 23.
Wednesday afternoon’s (Feb. 22) collision between a township fire engine and a car at Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) and Texas Avenue remains under investigation and no traffic summonses have been issued to either driver at this time, Lawrence Township police spokesman Lt. Charles Edgar said late this afternoon (Feb. 23).
The two women who were traveling in the car and the four volunteer firefighters who were aboard the fire engine were all released after being treated at two local hospitals, Edgar said.
He identified the driver of the car, a Kia Spectra, as Margaret A. Dixon, 78, and her passenger as Renee Portee, 48. Both women live in the Brookshire Senior Community on Forest Ridge Drive, off Darrah Lane East, in Lawrence Township.
Edgar identified the driver of the Slackwood Volunteer Fire Co. apparatus – Rescue 21 – as 60-year-old township resident Timothy Megargle. Also aboard the fire engine, he said, were Slackwood Deputy Chief Martin Sudol, 61, and Firefighters Ken Kandrac, 64, and Kishan D. Sitapara, all of whom are township residents.
At the time of the collision, about 2 p.m., Rescue 21 was responding to a reported mulch fire at the Dollar General store in the 2000 block of Brunswick Pike, at Whitehead Road. But when they were first dispatched, firefighters were incorrectly told the fire was at the Dollar Tree store in the 2500 block of Brunswick Pike, near Texas Avenue.
The reason for the dispatching error remains under investigation by township police and fire officials.
After being advised by radio of the address error, the Slackwood firefighters needed to make a U-turn in order to respond to the correct location.
Edgar said the fire engine –with all its emergency warning lights on and siren sounding – was traveling in the right northbound lane of Brunswick Pike as it approached the intersection with Texas Avenue. He said the driver, Megargle, slowed the fire engine and attempted to make the U-turn at the intersection.
As the fire engine was in the middle of its turn, it was struck on the driver’s side of its passenger cab by the Kia that Dixon was driving in the left northbound lane.
Dixon and her passenger complained of pain following the collision and were transported by ambulance to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton to be treated, Edgar said.
He said the four firefighters, meanwhile, were transported via ambulances to Capital Health System’s new hospital in Hopewell Township. Megargle was treated for arm and shoulder injuries, Sudol received five staples to close a laceration to his head, and Kandrac and Sitapara were examined as a precaution even though they complained of no injuries, he said.
The collision left the front of the Kia crushed and caused significant damage to the fire engine.
Slackwood Fire Chief Michael Oakley said today that it remains unclear if Rescue 21 can be repaired. He said staff at the township public works department will likely bring in a fire apparatus expert to assess the damage.
The accident remains under investigation by Officer Sean Kerins.
Editor's Note: The following is the original story, published about 3:20 p.m. Feb. 22.
Two civilians and four volunteer firefighters were injured when a car collided with a Lawrence Township fire engine this afternoon (Wednesday, Feb. 22).
None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, according to Lawrence Township Police Chief Daniel Posluszny, who was among the many emergency workers who responded to the crash scene at the intersection of Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) and Texas Avenue.
Posluszny said the exact circumstances of the collision are under investigation at this time.
Preliminary information gathered thus far indicates that Rescue 21 from Slackwood Volunteer Fire Co. was responding to a small mulch fire at the time of the crash, which happened about 2 p.m.
The police chief said the fire was at the Dollar General store in the 2000 block of Brunswick Pike, at Whitehead Road, but for a reason that authorities do not yet know it was incorrectly dispatched as being at the Dollar Tree store in the 2500 block of Brunswick Pike, near Texas Avenue.
After being notified of the error, the Slackwood fire engine – with its emergency lights and siren on – was in the process of making a U-turn from northbound Brunswick Pike, at Texas Avenue, when it collided with the car, which was also going north on Brunswick Pike.
The collision caused significant front-end damage to the car and appeared to have snapped the front axle of the fire engine.
The two women who were traveling in the car and the four volunteer firefighters riding aboard Rescue 21 were transported to area hospitals by ambulances from Lawrence and Trenton.
A heavy-duty tow truck was brought in to remove the damaged fire engine. Southbound Brunswick Pike was closed at Texas Avenue for over an hour because of the crash.
Ya Dad
4:46 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Bow Hunter when your house catches fire I bet you won't be saying anything negative about volunteer firefighters.
Lawrenceville Tax Payer
6:21 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Dear Bow Hunter,
First I hate to advise you that many of our Twp volunteer fire fighters are also paid fire fighters in surrounding areas. Second if you knew anything about fighting fire you would be aware that a lot of damage is caused due to water damage and making sure that the fire does not spread. I am sure that if the volunteers did not arrive in a timely manner you no longer would have a home. Last I think you should hold back any comments and wait to see who was in the wrong in this accident. it may or may not have been the firetruck drivers fault.
maggie smith
8:18 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Please will someone tell me how does one miss a 40 ft. light flashing- sirens blowing-monster fire truck coming down the street . I think my common sense would tell me to stay far far away and isn't there a law that says you must stay 200 ft. from it.
Mack McMack
3:40 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Because 80 year olds shouldn't be behind the wheel of automobiles. After you turn 70, you should be retested every 2-5 years to keep a drivers license.
not you
7:41 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Yes, Maggie.
Its usually written in BIGGGGGGGG BOLDDDDDDDDD letters.... KEEP BACK 200 FEET!
And im pretty sure, just as you are required for an ambulance, you are to give way to emergency vehicles. So, for this woman, i dont care her age.. to ride NEXT to a firetruck with its lights flashing and sirens blaring... i hate to say this... but, you get what you deserve.
Lynden Arden
8:37 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I understand where Bow Hunter is coming as I have seen some of this behavior myself, but I think it has less to do with volunteer firemen and more to do with post adolescent young men. There is an arrogance and lack of maturity that exists not only for fireman but police and private sector workers who feel they are king of the world. Eventually we all grow up and act like adults.
justsaying
12:14 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
to your post adolescent comment: look at picture #9 that would be the driver of the truck. I rest my case. Maybe if the driver of the car that struck the apparatus was following State Of New Jersey Statute 39:4-91 which clearly states "The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall yield the right of way to any authorized emergency vehicle when it is operated on official business, or in the exercise of the driver's profession or calling, in response to an emergency call".
Also the disrespect to the men and women who willing put their lives on the line to protect you and your families (for free) is a disgrace to the community, if you feel so strongly that volunteer firemen are nothing but garbage I ask you to go to council and base your opinion at a meeting and strive for a change im sure all of the township would love to see $2 million added on to our budget.
Watchdog
10:05 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
There is a very good question the township should be asking these firefighters: why didn't they follow the traffic laws and use the jug handle there instead of making an illegal u-turn? No doubt the car shouldn't have been anywhere close to the fire truck, but pulling an illegal u-turn for a mulch fire makes this a murky mess.
Mack McMack
3:43 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Trust me, the question is being asked. Nobody is denying that the u-turn was a BAD idea. I will say that the 78 year old driver is not at all without fault, as she seems to have failed to pull over, yield, and stay 200 feet behind the apparatus.
not you
7:32 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Becasue it is an EMERGENCY VEHICLE.
IF your house was on fire... and you found out the fire department stopped at red lights, used the U-turn, stopped to let some ducks cross the street and your precious family memories were gone forever, im sure you wouldnt dare question the use of U-Freakin-turns!!
As much as i agree that "it was ONLY a mulch fire" the job of the fire department is to respond to the 911 calls.
KM
9:10 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
I saw this accident happen ahead of me as I was driving South on Brunswick Ave yesterday. I saw the FT coming with lights and sirens. It seems that the FT slowed a bit right after turning—possibly to make the U-Turn, but I didn't realize it was heading for a U-turn. I thought it was heading towards Texas.
I think that these women were traveling south on the inside lane, the FT passed them on the right—don't forget that these FTs come up on you very fast and sometimes there is no time to get over to the right, especially when there are other cars around you. I bet that the women thought that since the FT had passed by on their right, it would be continuing forward, therefore they continued driving in the inside lane, but suddenly the FT turned left from the Right lane, directly in front of them. If there was a left blinker flashing on the FT, I can see how it could be missed when all other lights are flashing in addition to the FT being in the Right lane.
Probably, there was not time for her to stop before hitting the FT when it turned in front of her. FT probably thought she had stopped as they came up and it was safe to turn. Colossal misunderstanding. I hope that all involved will be ok. Too bad about that beautiful FT.
ProudNJFireman
10:14 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
To address Bow Hunter's comments as well as anyone else that may be unsure about the current law regarding emergency vehicles, here is the exact text as stated in the NJ MVC Driver's Manual (Page 73 - www.state.nj.us/mvc/manuals/chap_04_13.html) This is the statute: N.J.S.A. 39:4-92, 39:3-54.12
Pull Over And Stop For Emergency Vehicles
New Jersey law requires all motorists to yield to emergency vehicles when they sound sirens and/or flashing red and/or blue emergency lights. A motorist should steer to the extreme right of the roadway, stop and wait for the vehicle to pass. Afterward, the motorist should keep at least 300 feet behind a signaling emergency vehicle (N.J.S.A. 39:4-92, 39:3-54.12).
Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances or other emergency vehicles have sirens and red lights. Private vehicles operated by volunteer fire and rescue squad members (with emergency vehicle identification) responding to an emergency call use blue
That section of Route 1 is 45 MPH. Stopping distance for that kind of vehicle is 170.5 feet! If that very passenger vehicle had followed the law regarding emergency vehicles and was traveling the posted speed limit, this accident would have never occurred because the driver would have stopped, then proceeded, keeping the required distance of 300 feet behind the Fire Apparatus.
ProudNJFireman
10:34 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Furthermore, the same law, as quoted in N.J.S.A. 39:4-92, 39:3-54.12 "Private vehicles operated by volunteer fire and rescue squad members (with emergency vehicle identification) responding to an emergency call use blue lights."
That means, drivers should do the same for a private vehicle with blue lights as they would for a police car, ambulance and fire truck.
And, to quote you Bowhunter "Volunteer firemen have always been on the dorky side as they drive around in the fire department cars wasting gas just too make themselves feel like they have some special powers. I applaud their efforts and willingness but volunteer firemen are a thing of the past in my opinion."
Lauging at your passive-agressive comments, I do confirm that "We" Firefighters, have "Special Powers!" We love our community. We actively serve our community. We place our lives on the line every second of every day. We sacrifice our days, evening, nights, and holidays to make sure people like you are safe. We sometimes pay more attention to the needs of the community over the needs of ourselves. We have the same (if not more) training and experience than career firefighters.
But, when it is all said and done, we run into burning buildings when everyone else is running out. We save lives and protect property.
So BowHunter, if you want "Special Powers" too, get off your Deer Stand and go to Fire School and serve your community. Or, just shut up and go away.
not you
7:34 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
^ LOVE!
Tom
12:30 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Emergency vehicles must still be conscious of the traffic around them and must be careful. If an emergency vehicle is running a red light or making what would be an illegal U-turn they must be very aware and very sure that the traffic around them sees them and is aware of what they are doing. A friend of mine was killed by an ambulance running a red light. Yes, the ambulance had lights and sirens on but that does not guarantee that everyone can see them. In this case it appears that the fire truck made a U-turn in front of the car not giving the car sufficient time to stop.
Michael Ratcliffe
5:13 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
This story has been updated. The accident remains under investigation, with no traffic summonses issued to either driver at this time.
pridesouthof95
9:25 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
I dont understand how you can come off right away as the firemen are cocky no good crazy jerks.....The Drivers are both human! its called a mistake...and in life things turn out to be ok after them. Lets thank them for all that they do and let the township manager handle what he has to. I love our firefighter paid and volunteer, police and EMS. i cant remember a time of hearing any abouse by them. go anywhere else, we have some of the best if not the best!!!! and hey you could move to hamilton and pay tripple of what you pay here. Im glad no one was hurt bad. For once I would like to thank all of our emergency workers for what they do and not down them!!!!
Patrick
10:26 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
The only thing that disturbs me is that pictures of the victims where posted. Its one thing to post a picture of someone arrested. But a victim of a car crash didn't ask to be involved in news. I think you just ask yourself, would you want a picture of you on patch after an accident -posted for the world to see -being lead to an ambulance? I've been in one accident where my wife hit her head and was taken away in a similar stretcher... She would be livid if that was posted on the web as news.
just something to think about.
as for the fire... The firemen don't know its a simple mulch fire. All they know is they where told to go to the wrong location and there is a reported fire. If you hear a fire truck slow way down or better yet. STOP.
SHSB
11:21 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
Perhaps the fact that the driver of the Kia was 78 and may have had reduced reaction time due to age also played a factor?
And to echo Patrick--anyone who works in emergency response knows that what we are dispatched for and what we actually find are usually 2 completely different things. I've seen fires called in as mulch fires--except that the mulch was next to a building which then caught fire from the mulch. Mulch fires can lead to structure fires if not doused quickly.
Tom
11:31 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
This is what it comes down to... the driver of the fire truck made a risky maneuver into oncoming traffic assuming that the traffic would stop for him. That is a bad assumption as was shown by the accident. The car had a green light at an intersection when suddenly the fire truck appeared in front of her. No driver of an emergency vehicle should assume that it is safe for them to run red lights, go through stop signs, or make illegal U-turns just because they can.
Emergency vehicles are out there trying to save lives. They shouldn't become dangers on the road taking lives.
not you
3:35 pm on Sunday, February 26, 2012
"The car had a green light at an intersection when suddenly the fire truck appeared in front of her."
Really?
I dont know about you, but if there were a 50,000 lb bright red chunk of metal with sirens and lights flashing, driving within 100 feet of you, do you think you would miss it?
SHSB
1:45 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
All drivers make errors at some point--even emergency responders. We are all human. We don't know if the driver of the truck assumed people would stop, or if perhaps the driver of the Kia was already stopped but her foot slipped off the brake (in my 20+ years experience not terribly uncommon with elderly drivers). We don't know if perhaps everyone else was stopped and the driver of the Kia passed illegally around a stopped car and into the truck (I've seen it happen--people don't know why the car in front of them is stopped for a green so they go around and into the path of an emergency vehicle, the driver of which checked to make sure traffic was stopped but didn't account for the numbskull who would pass the stopped cars on the right shoulder). The fact remains that everyone else stopped except the Kia. We all weren't there. I am quite interested to see what the investigation reveals, but I refuse to place blame when I wasn't there and the investigative report has not been released.
wizardly
9:49 am on Sunday, February 26, 2012
If you want to see a real good sight go to one of the installation dinners for the fire house. Went to one a few weeks ago not in Lawrence. It was like a high school dance. People hanging all over each others date, the girls being disrespected by having body parts groped on the dance floor, alcohol being drank like college kids. One guy was bragging how he flew in from out of town for the dinner as his birthday present to himself. The volunteers do a good job of saving the town money but they are a breed of their own as I saw for myself. I don't know who's fault thus accident was nor do I care just wanted to share my 2cents of what I saw of volunteers. It was at least funny just not my cup of tea.
SHSB
2:01 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
In my town, the firefighters--both volunteer and career--are honored ONE NIGHT A YEAR with a dinner in their honor. It's the ONE NIGHT A YEAR another fire department provides coverage and we can relax and enjoy ourselves and not be on call. I'm sorry you begrudge us our one night a year to relax and enjoy the company of our fellow brother and sister firefighters.
Honestly, your comments lead me to believe that you are really just uptight and were uncomfortable. I dance with men other than my husband at the dinners. So what? I have a drink at the dinners. Again, so what? We voluntarily give up having a drink so many nights of the year so that we can volunteer, and you'll begrudge us our one night to be honored?
I sincerely hope the next time you're invited to one of these dinners you'll choose to decline the invitation instead of coming and then trying to put down and ridicule the honorees.
Princess sarah
9:40 pm on Sunday, February 26, 2012
Volunteer fireman are dorks. All of them. I dated one who thought he was a cop. A real dork. They don't fight any fires they just talk about. Dorks is an understatement.
SHSB
1:08 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wow, generalize and stereotype much? My 41 year old husband and father of 2 works hard as his paying job, is an active and involved father, and also chooses to volunteer his time in the service of others as a volunteer firefighter. Nothing dorky about that. Maybe the guy(s) you knew were dorks, but that certainly doesn't make all volunteer firefighters dorks. Not to mention I'm sure if I asked them right now I'm sure their opinion of you wouldn't be stellar either, "Princess".
not you
1:33 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thank you,SHSB... i didnt want to comment on this post becuase it was literally the most embarrasing post this page has seen.
Not only did it have NOTHING to do with the story, but i actually felt a little bad for Princess... cause she's all clueless and totally embarrased herself.
And i agree, he was probably just as happy to get rid of her as well.
I wonder what she does to serve her community? Get her nails done? go tanning?
This is embarrasing.
Now.. do i think some firemen are A-holes... Sure. Does it have anything to do with their abiltiy to fight a fire or how they act at installation dinners.?.. No. it has to do with their character as a person.
KM
12:25 am on Monday, February 27, 2012
ok. I can't believe I'm going to comment again, because this stream has become rather silly and extremely judgmental. We are actually talking about an unfortunate accident that involved a firetruck and an individual. No one knows exactly what happened, and maybe we will find out, but I won't be casting any stones because I have made mistakes—if you haven't, congratulations. Accidents happen. People—all kinds of people—make bad judgement calls. And, I will be willing to bet that all who were involved feel terrible about it.
I will say again though, I am still not sure how a car in the middle lane can get over to the right, when it has several cars to the side of it moving into the emergency lane and the firetruck flying up on it's right between it and the other cars. It can't move over in front of the Fire Truck—especially if there are already cars in the emergency lane to the right. So, it slows down to let the FT pass on the right. Now, does it totally stop if there are cars coming up behind? So, maybe she didn't totally stop in the road for fear that someone would rear end her. I'm sure she was going very slowly. But maybe she didn't anticipate or realize that FT was going to turn left in front of her. And, maybe she was in FT's blind spot right as he made the turn....... A lot of maybes.
The only thing I know for sure, is that I don't know anyone Else's mind. But, I do know that there are many here, that think they do.
Michael Ratcliffe
2:48 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Update:
Lawrence Township police have concluded their investigation into the Feb. 22 collision at Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) and Texas Avenue involving a car and a township fire engine that was responding to an emergency call.
“We have investigated the circumstances surrounding the accident and at this point no charges are being filed against either driver,” police department spokesman Lt. Charles Edgar said today (Feb. 28).