Dec. 03--ORINDA -- Three firefighters injured Sunday while tending to a car wreck on Highway 24 remain in serious but stable condition, and their injuries are not considered life threatening, according to the Moraga-Orinda Fire District.
All three -- Capt. Michael Rattary; nine-year MOFD veteran Kelly Morris, a former Saint Mary's College basketball star; and four-year veteran Stephen Rogness -- were injured when a vehicle traveling east lost control just east of the Wilder Road exit, struck a fire engine and rolled into the three, Fire Chief Randy Bradley said.
The wreck happened about 9:25 a.m. on Sunday morning. In the initial wreck, which occurred around 9 a.m., a tan Toyota Corolla and a silver Honda Civic collided with each other. The Honda then hit a Chevy S-10 that had come to rest in the far right line after colliding with the concrete center divide, the California Highway Patrol said.
The Toyota ended up stopping on the right shoulder, and fire crews were interviewing the driver when a Chevy Tahoe spun out of control and hit the Corolla, which overturned and collided with the three firefighters, the CHP said.
Rogeness will need surgery to repair a foot that was crushed in the wreck and a knee that also was injured, Bradley said. Morris fractured a kneecap and suffered ligament damage to her knee, and she also broke a fibula and foot. Whether she will need surgery was still being determined, Bradley said.
Rattery suffered a
"significant concussion," Bradley said, and cuts on the back of his head and on his legs. He was expected to be released from the hospital Monday afternoon, Bradley said.
Staff writer Jennifer Modenessi contributed to this report. Rick Hurd covers breaking news. Contact him at 925-945-4780 and follow him at Twitter.com//3rdERH.
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