Cleveland Aerial in Hit-and-Run Collision on Way to Call

Oct. 9, 2020
A car crashed into the rear of the Cleveland Fire Department's Tower 1 as it was responding to another incident, and the accident has put the apparatus out of service for repairs.

A Cleveland fire apparatus was struck by a car while arriving at a previous accident early Friday.

Firefighters initially responded to a call concerning an SUV that crashed into brick building at about midnight, WJW-TV reports. That's when another vehicle collided with the back of a Cleveland Fire Department aerial.

"Tower 1 had to be put out of service for repairs," the department said in a social media post. "Company is responding in a spare ladder today. Fortunately no injuries."

A TV news photographer captured footage of a dark-colored Chrysler Sebring convertible driving away from the accident scene.

"I couldn't make out the plate but others were able to get the number,"  Mike Vielhaber wrote in a social media post. "Luckily no injuries to CFD members who were getting out of the truck when hit."

According to witnesses, two people were in the car that struck the apparatus. They eventually fled the scene on the foot, WJW reports.