Surveillance cameras captured video of a fire truck responding to a call, but not before crashing into several cars and tearing down trolley polls. NBC10’s Doug Shimell has the story.
A crash involving a fire truck in West Philadelphia left several firefighters injured Sunday morning.
Fire officials said the crash, in which a vehicle partially rolled over, happened about 10 a.m. at 55th Street and Baltimore Avenue. Authorities confirmed that Philadelphia Fire Department Ladder 13 was involved in the crash. Surveillance video from a nearby tire store appears to show the vehicle sliding and jackknifing, damaging four parked cars, poles and buildings.
Five firefighters were injured in the crash. Four of those five were released from the hospital Monday. No civilians were hurt during the incident.
Photos from the block show one car completely crushed under the front of the ladder truck. Witnesses told Gyllenhaal that the truck appeared to be responding to a call when the driver lost control and hit parked cars along Baltimore Avenue.
"It was coming pretty fast and when they turned right here, they lost control and just took the pole, everything," said Louis Torres.
Ladder 13's firehouse is located on 52nd Street near Willows Avenue, about four blocks from the site of the crash.
SEPTA repair crews replaced two trolley poles that were destroyed by the truck. Officials meanwhile continue to investigate the accident.
"I don't wanna speculate about whether they were going too fast or going too slow," said Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Williams. "[We plan] to interview each of the members and to evaluate and coordinate activities with police AID so we can correct anything we may have done wrong or to reinforce what we may have done right."
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Officials have not yet revealed whether the damaged ladder truck is salvageable.
