A Texas fire chief took to social media to express his frustration after one of his department's apparatus was damaged by a motorist while crews were working the scene of a previous vehicle collision.
Parker County Emergency Services District 1 Fire Chief Stephen Watson posted a description of the incident to the department's Facebook page on Sunday after several firefighters were put at serious risk earlier that morning during the response.
According to the post, four vehicles were wrecked and the apparatus was eventually taken out of service due to the damage caused by drivers who disregarded the state's "Move over, slow down" law.
"Four firefighters lives were put in immediate danger, some were still in the vehicle, and a three month old $650,000 fire engine is now out of service for the citizens of Aledo and Parker County thanks to the carelessness and complete disregard of the law, and the safety of our first responders, by multiple drivers," Chief Watson wrote in the post.
The chief went on to point out that public safety personnel continue to suffer significant injury and even death in these incidents, and that it is vital for motorists to obey the law and show concern for safety when passing roadside emergency incidents.
"Do yourself and us a favor and please slow down, drive the conditions, yield to emergency vehicles of all kinds, and follow the law," the chief said."
