A chain-reaction crash involving an FDNY firetruck in Brooklyn on Tuesday left one person dead and nearly a dozen others injured.
Details of the Crash
According to officials, the firetruck was traveling eastbound on Avenue S with its lights and sirens activated when it collided with a commercial van traveling westbound on 11th Street after 6:30 p.m. Surveillance footage captured the van entering the intersection before being struck by the firetruck.
The impact of the crash caused the firetruck to then hit an Access-A-Ride van carrying passengers, which subsequently struck a Lexus SUV.
Five firefighters were treated at a local hospital and are in stable condition. The driver of the commercial van was transported to NYU Langone Brooklyn. The driver of the Access-A-Ride van, along with three passengers, received medical attention at South Brooklyn Health. Tragically, a 78-year-old man who was a passenger in the Access-A-Ride van was pronounced dead at the hospital. The remaining three passengers, including the driver, are reported to be in stable condition.
The driver of the Lexus was also taken to a local hospital in stable condition. In total, authorities confirmed that 11 people sustained injuries in the incident.
Witness Hussain Towseef described the difficulty first responders had opening the doors of the Access-A-Ride van, noting that many of the passengers appeared to have disabilities. Another witness, Marcello Ocello, reported hearing a loud crash and believed the van may have had the green light. Michael Liu, the owner of the commercial van, stated his employee was driving after completing a job and expressed his sorrow over the tragedy.
Preliminary police investigations indicate the firetruck’s lights and sirens were active at the time of the crash, though it remains unclear if the truck was responding to an emergency call.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did the crash occur?
The crash occurred after 6:30 p.m. On Tuesday.
Where did the crash take place?
The crash occurred at the intersection of Avenue S and 11th Street in Brooklyn.
How many people were injured?
Eleven people were injured in the crash, in addition to one fatality.
As investigations continue, the full circumstances surrounding this tragic event remain under review.
