A Long Beach volunteer firefighter driving to a call early Saturday struck two pedestrians, killing one and seriously injuring the other, police said.
The 22-year-old firefighter, whose name was not released, was responding to a call about a house fire with the blue emergency lights of his 1999 Buick Century turned on, Nassau County police said.
A woman, 57, and a man, 60, were walking north across East Park Avenue around 12:30 a.m. after leaving the Half Moon Bar and Grill, Nassau County police said in a news release.
The Buick, traveling west on East Park Avenue near Riverside Boulevard, struck the duo, police said. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene by a Long Beach Fire Department emergency medical technician.
The man was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition, with injuries including a broken spine, lacerated kidney and multiple fractures, police said. Police did not identify either pedestrian.
The Buick was impounded for a safety check. The investigation is ongoing, including whether the driver was speeding. An official said he was questioned at the scene and released.
The firefighter was responding to a report of smoke coming from a house, Long Beach Fire Commissioner Scott Kemins said. The call was found to be related to a backyard fire pit in the 200 block of West Market Street, about two blocks from the crash.
The firefighter was first heading to the Long Beach Fire Station located at City Hall, less than one block away.
Volunteer firefighters are generally trained to respond to the firehouse before going to a call. Volunteers are trained to operate their personal vehicles and required to follow all traffic laws, officials said.
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