A Nevada County captain passed out behind the wheel of a fire engine on March 7, according to The Union of Grass Valley.
Nevada County Consolidated Fire Chief Tim Fike told the newspaper that Capt. Bruce Niederberger was en route to the hospital to pickup his partner at approximately 10:30 a.m. when he "started to get tunnel vision."
"He passed out" after turning on the siren and jamming his foot on the brake, Fike said.
The incident tied up traffic, but a crash was avoided. Passersby called 911 after finding Niederberger slumped behind the wheel of the engine in the middle of the road.
When rescue personnel tried to get him out of the engine, he became combative, Fike told the newspaper. He transported to the hospital by helicopter for evaluation.
Although there was no damage to the engine, Niederberger sustained four fractured vertebrae in his back and a contusion to his face, most likely from hitting the dashboard, according to the report. He is expected to be off work for several months.
A stroke or heart attack has been ruled out and Fike believes he may have been suffering from dehydration.
