Firefighter seriously hurt when truck collides head-on with another vehicle

Videos
Slideshow

Kansas City Fire Apparatus Operator Jeff Smith
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Previous Pause Next

Regular Photo Size14/14

Posted: 02/15/2011

By: Gary Brauer

UPDATE: Cop: Fireman lost leg, but saved 2 lives

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - A Kansas City fire truck was involved in a collision that sent rescue crews and power officials to East Red Bridge Road Tuesday afternoon.

Click on the slideshow to the left for photos of the scene and injured firefighter

Rescue crews were called to the scene shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Kansas City Fire Department spokesman Joe Vitale said the fire truck and a car collided head-on. The fire truck then crashed into a utility pole, which knocked down electrical lines on top of the fire truck.

Preliminary findings suggest that the female driver of the car was driving under the influence and crossed over the median, according to police. The Kansas City Police Department will investigate the crash.

The woman had a 3-year-old child in the car. The child was not injured and the woman’s injuries are not life threatening.

Four ambulances responded to the scene.

Both the firefighter and female driver were taken to Research Medical Center and Truman Medical Center East. Authorities said the firefighter in serious, but stable condition. He has been identified as Fire Apparatus Operator Jeff Smith. Police told NBC Action News Smith could have one foot or leg amputated.

The fire truck was responding on an emergency medical call when the accident occurred. Five firefighters were in the truck, but only Smith, a 21-year veteran of the Kansas City Fire Department, was injured.