Veteran Firefighter Dies After Engine Collides With Car
Updated: Saturday, October 9, 1999 - 6 PM
A Texas City, Texas fire captain was killed and two others injured -- one critically --
when a car pulled into their engine's path while responding to an emergency medical
call Tuesday morning.
Captain William M. Bethune, 52, was pronounced dead at an area hospital shortly
after 9:30 a.m. following the
crash, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Tom Vinge told the Associated Press.
He was the first Texas City firefighter to die in the line of duty in 52 years.
``Bill was a fun-loving person, he loved life and lived his life to the fullest,'' Fire Chief Gerald Grimm said.
Firefighters William Fattig, 33, and Craig
Alan Peterson, 37, were also injured. Fattig was treated and released. Peterson, the
pumper's driver, remained in critical condition Wednesday night.
Vinger said the fire truck was eastbound with its emergency lights flashing and siren blaring. It passed through a red light and hit a northbound Mercury Cougar driven by Michael Johnson of Texas City.
Photo Courtesy The Daily News
Emergency workers tend to one of the occupants of the pumper following the crash
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The truck's front left side collided with the front right of the car. The fire truck then ran into a column beneath the overpass, trapping Peterson briefly.
Bethune was ejected through the fire truck's windshield.
``(Johnson) told officers he saw the fire truck coming but he had a green light and thought he could make it through the intersection,'' Vinger said. ``The fire truck had right of way in this instance, and there were numerous witnesses to testify that its lights and sirens were on.''
The driver has not been ticketed and the investigation was continuing, officials said.
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This story was compiled by reports from the Associated Press and Firehouse.Com News
