Volunteer injured by runaway firetruck

[runawaybuff]

In June of 2001, Jessica Deleon, a 32 year old volunteer firefighter ran to stop a runaway firetruck. As she was entering the driver door, she was crushed between the vehicle and a pipe corral fence. She has spent over 18 months in hospitals with large skin loss, crushed pelvis and internal injuries. She has now recovered to the point that she has some healthy renewed interest in life. She is still pretty much homebound, but she has renewed interest in firefighters. Now, Jessica has started a collection of badges from departments around the country. You could make her a happy young lady if you could spare a badge from your department. Please send the badge to Jessica Deleon c/o Chief, Belen Fire Department, P.O. Box 37169, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87176. She will never fight another fire, but she still has her dreams.

[SamsonFCDES]

I will see what I can do.

Best of luck Jessica.

[runawaybuff]

I made a mistake. Jessica wants PATCHES not badges. My mistake, I am not a firefighter, Runaway Buff

[DixieFire53]

I will get a patch in the morning and send it out in the next few days.

[runawaybuff]

Thank you DixieFire53. Just before the call that resulted in her injury, Jessica had completed teaching a group of Junior fire fighters. She will appreciate the badge. I will probably repost since I screwed up the first request.

[NJFFSA16]

Injured firefighter awarded money
aljsmb
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - A federal jury has awarded a Belen volunteer
firefighter injured in an accident more than $8 million.
But because of the way jurors apportioned blame in the product
liability case, Jessica DeLeon stands to get what's left of $1.53
million after attorney fees and litigation costs.
DeLeon had sued Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., the manufacturer
of the runaway truck that pinned her against a steel post three
years ago.
DeLeon, 36, was severely injured when the unmanned pumper truck
went into gear and began moving forward with no driver. DeLeon, who
was operating the pumps at the time, jumped down and tried to hit
the kill switch but was pinned.
DeLeon now uses a wheelchair. Workers' compensation insurance
has paid about $1 million in medical costs, but it has fallen
mostly to family and friends to help with modifications to her home
and give her rides to doctors' offices.
DeLeon sought at least $10 million, based on future needs, lost
earnings and punitive damages.
Jurors found Grumman negligent but assigned it only 17.5 percent
of the blame and 82.5 percent to the Belen Fire Department, which
couldn't be sued under state law.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[cellblock]

I work tommorrow night. I will get a patch from the Chief when I go in and get it in the mail to her the next day. It is the same patch as the one seen in my avitar.
Thanks for posting the update about this FFs injuries and recovery.
cellblock

[Druxus]

Just out of curiosity, How was grumman negligent?

[NJFFSA16]

Originally posted by Druxus
Just out of curiosity, How was grumman negligent?

I can not answer that question.....no other details were released regarding the decisions.