Fire truck falls victim to slippery road

By Allie Blood

Published Dec. 7, 2007

While responding to an accident, a Boone County fire truck slid off the road Thursday night.

At 5:49 p.m., Station 12 of the Boone County Fire Protection District received an injury accident call, BCFPD spokesman Gale Blomenkamp said. The road had not been plowed and was slick from the snowfall.

A fire truck responded to the incident and while en route, the firefighters lost control of the vehicle and slid off Broadway into a ditch on the side of the road. Fire Chief Stephen Paulsell said another volunteer officer responded to the injury accident call moments after the accident was reported, and no injuries were reported from the truck's incident.

After the truck slid off the road, other firefighters responded and arrived on the scene within minutes. Blomenkamp said Carl's Towing and Recovery was called and had the truck out of the ditch by 8:30 p.m.

"The two drivers of the truck were not injured," Paulsell said. "They were wearing their seatbelts."

Paulsell declined to release the names of the fire truck drivers.

According to Paulsell, the truck had cosmetic damage and will be checked tomorrow for brakes, alignment and any other problems it may have sustained.

"It was an incredibly steep embankment," Blomenkamp said.

While the truck was being towed, cars lined up waiting to pass. Columbia Police Department officer Chris Hessenflow stopped cars at Broadway and Highway 63, warning drivers.

"The roads are bad enough that by the time you get close enough to see the accident, you won't be able to turn back safely," Hennsenflow said.

Columbia resident Bob Smith was on his way home from Wal-Mart when he was stopped because of the accident. Officers told him what happened, but could not estimate what time he would be able to pass.

"I've been waiting about an hour so far," Smith said. "I'd like to get home."