Captain Paul McDonough of the Tucson Fire Department in Arizona confirmed that one of his department's fire engines was totalled in a July 24 morning accident. Responding to an emergency with its lights and sirens on, a white vehicle impeded the engine's path by making a dead stop at the intersection of Fort Lowell Road and North Stone Avenue.
The engine's driver pulled to the right of the vehicle as part of an evasive procedure, causing the rear to slide and the entire vehicle to roll over, landing on its side.
Fire crew personnel Hasa Dilic, Keith Cubberly, Mike Pursley, Casey Tribolet and Jim Saunders were all hospitalized with non-critical injuries. Four of the crew have since been released. All five members were wearing seat belts.
The Tucson Police Department cited driver Dilic "on suspicion of failure to reduce or control speed to avoid an accident."
McDonough said police told him the white vehicle driver would have also been cited had it not fleed the scene.
The engine was a 40,000 pound 1996 Spartan, soon to put in reserve. McDonough said the department will test most of its equipment in an effort to salvage parts.
