Maine Firefighter in Crash Called Hero

Aug. 9, 2010
Capt. Natasha Kinney was returning to the station following a call when she hit a soft shoulder and lost control of the apparatus, but managed to avoid a group of motorcyclists.

A Shapleigh firefighter is being called a hero after rolling over an engine on Aug. 8, according to WPFO-TV.

Capt. Natasha Kinney was returning to the station shortly after 5 p.m. following a call when she hit a soft shoulder and lost control of the apparatus, but managed to avoid a group of motorcyclists, according to the report.

The motorcyclists praised her efforts and stayed on scene until crews were able to extricate her from the cab.

Kinney was flown to Maine Medical Center with serious injuries and was later released. She was the only one in the fire engine at the time and no other vehicles were involved.

"The firefighter that was operating the truck, hopefully everything is going to be alright with her … that's the first and foremost concern," Rescue Chief Mike Perro told WABI-TV after the wreck. "The truck is replaceable, we'll take care of that, in the future, we are insured for these kinds of things."

The department purchased the engine in 2005 for $250,000.

State police and the State Fire Marshal's Office are currently investigating the crash.

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