An investigation is under way after a deadly accident in the Bronx. A firetruck collided with another car, smashing it beyond recognition.
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Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly Richardson has more live from Flatbush. Friends of the victim gathered on the corner and placed flowers for the victim, who they tell me was 20 years-old. He was a student, he worked for FedEx and lived in a building off East 16th Street, just off the intersection where he was killed.
Officials now confirm that the firetruck had the right of way as it came barreling down the street.
Area Resident: "The sirens were on, whenever the guys from the fire station are leaving and it's an emergency, they usually have the sirens on really loud. You hear it from up the block."
Officials say the truck from Ladder Company 147 was heading to a call. The big rig had just left the fire station a few blocks away. At the same time a four door Honda Accord was traveling from the opposite direction, south on East 16th Street.
Witnesses remember hearing a loud crash around 1:30 a.m.
Area Resident: "He was making a left and he hit the side of the truck, not the front or the middle of the truck."
Fire responders had to tear the roof off the car in order to get to the victim but he did not make it. He died.
Mikhail Wright, Victim's Friend: "He was a good guy. I think he just got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Parts of the car and emergency medical equipment were scattered all over the intersection. The front end of the Honda, which had Florida tags, was crushed. The air bags inside did inflate.
Officials were hoping to find surveillance cameras in the area that may have captured exactly what happened.
Two firefighters were hurt. They received minor injuries and were treated at Lutheran Hospital.
(Copyright 2005 WABC-TV)
