Michael and Crystal Keith of Cherry Tree, Indiana County, crashed into a pole on Front Street in the borough at 10:39 p.m. Sunday, state police said.
They were only two blocks from the firehouse, where they intended to get their gear and respond to a fire on Front Street.
Mr. Keith, whose age was not available, was driving the vehicle and was flown to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, where he underwent surgery. Mrs. Keith, 22, was flown to Altoona Medical Center and then transferred to UPMC Presbyterian for surgery. Both remain in critical condition, said Ben Wilshire, chief of the Cherry Tree Volunteer Fire Department.
Mr. and Mrs. Keith are part of a 25-member crew, of which nearly a quarter are members of the Keith family. Mr. Keith's uncle, mother, father, younger brother and older brother are also Cherry Tree volunteer firefighters.
"It's more or less that the whole family belongs," Mr. Wilshire said. "I talked to his mom a bit last night and she's doing as best as can be expected."
Mr. Keith is president of the fire company and second assisting chief, said Mr. Wilshire, of Emeigh, who discovered the crash on his way to the fire. The chief is the only one allowed to go directly to the fire. The rest of the company departs from the firehouse, he said.
This is not the first time a member of the Keith family has been injured in a vehicular accident while responding to a fire.
Joseph Keith, Mr. Keith's uncle, was injured in August 2005 when the fire department tanker truck he was driving skidded, slid sideways and overturned onto its roof after he applied the brakes, state police said.
"When we're volunteers like we are, you can't afford to have anybody hurt," Mr. Wilshire said.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
