LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — Two fire trucks collided on Saturday afternoon on the way to a call for a fire in Luzerne County that resulted with 6 firefighters injured. The crash happened on Route 309 in Butler Township.
Butler Township Police are investigating the collision between fire apparatus that was responding to a structure fire. The Luzerne County 911 Center received a report of a structure fire just before 2:30 p.m. on Grouse Ridge Lane in the Beech Mountain Lakes development.
A Spartan rescue truck from Valley Regional Fire & Rescue and a Seagrave Marauder ladder truck from the Hazle Township Fire & Rescue collided at the intersection.
According to Butler Township Police Chief William J. Feissner, a preliminary investigation revealed that the rescue truck from Valley Regional entered the intersection on a steady red traffic light and began to turn left. The ladder truck from Hazle Township was traveling north on Hunter Highway and had a green traffic light.
The ladder truck swerved to avoid the collision but struck the right side of the rescue truck and then went off, striking an embankment. The driver of the ladder truck was trapped in the vehicle for a short time before being extricated by other firefighters.
A total of 6 firefighters were injured – 4 that were slightly injured and 2 with moderate injuries. 5 of the firefighters were transported Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton and 1 was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley. Ambulances from Sugarloaf, Lehigh Valley EMS, Mountain Top, White Haven, and Geisinger EMS Berwick responded to the scene.
Both vehicles had emergency lights activated at the time of the crash. Both apparatus received several damages.
A home on Grouse Ridge Lane was destroyed as a result of the fire. Firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading to a neighboring residence that was close by.
Butler Township Police are conducting the investigation. The Sugarloaf Township Police assisted at the scene, as well as other regional first responders and fire police. A portion of Hunter Highway was closed down for approximately 4 hours as a result of the crash.
This is a developing story. Check back for details.