The fire chief of Nassau County and a firefighter were injured when the fire department vehicle in which they were riding overturned near Yulee as they rushed to a fire Thursday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Chief Chuck Cooper was on county Road 108 near Sand Hill Road headed to a fire in Hilliard when his car left the road.
"He came around the curve, lost control, traveled on the north shoulder, then eventually came back on the roadway and eventually overturned," FHP Lt. Bill Leeper said.
Cooper's passenger, firefighter Phillip Llewllyn, was able to crawl out of the wreckage. Cooper had to be cut out of the car. They were taken to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center, where they were in fair condition Thursday afternoon.
County Road 108 was closed for about an hour after the accident. FHP investigators said the road was dry at the time of the crash. They were still investigating the cause.
A resident who regularly travels the road said the curves in that area can be dangerous.
"These turns, you gotta really pay attention," area resident Joe Pickren said. "It will sneak up on you."
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