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Home > Fire Topics > Fire Apparatus > Woman killed by fire truck during nonemergency drive

December 10, 2012

Woman killed by fire truck during nonemergency drive

Lauren Roady was crossing the street when the apparatus struck her

By FireRescue1 Staff

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Ky. police say a woman was struck and killed by a fire truck over the weekend.

Lauren Roady, 27, from Washington, D.C. was killed after being hit by an apparatus at an intersection Saturday night, according to WKYT.

NBC Washington reports that a firefighter was driving the apparatus during a non-emergency, without its lights and sirens on and hit Roady as she crossed the street.

A coroner says Roady died from multiple blunt force trauma.

Roady's friends say she was in Lexington over the weekend with a Washington running group, competing in a cross-country race.

Police say they are completing a full investigation of the incident but treating it as an accidental death.

Authorities say full details of the investigation should be available early next year.

Comments

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Mark Normington Monday, December 10, 2012 9:15:36 AM Driving is an awesome responsibility

Glennon Mayer Monday, December 10, 2012 9:16:28 AM Sorry for her death but these road races on foot or bike have to take some irresponsibility for there own safety.

Don Stabler Monday, December 10, 2012 9:19:03 AM Sad times for all involved, my thoughts and prayers are with the Roady Family and the fire fighters involved.

Cristi Gillies Monday, December 10, 2012 12:11:07 PM We must take some responsibility of our own when we are pedestrians.

Jon Whiskey Monday, December 10, 2012 6:33:35 PM Where was she? I'd bet my next check that she was in the road. I have walked this planet for 25 years, I have NEVER come close to being hit by a firetruck while walking. Very sad, she sounds like an awesome person. But pedestrians DO NOT HAVE the right of way on the road...this is a great example of "Do not trust the law to keep you safe". So clearly...she shouldn't have been standing there.

Keith Enisle Hoyt Monday, December 10, 2012 9:19:03 PM I would like to think that this accident could have been avoided. None of us know the details, and it must be accepted that this could have been operator error as much as pedestrian error. Unless someone commenting was a witness, drop the assumption that it must have been the runner. With the information in this report, it is ludicrous to do so.

Jon Whiskey Mon Dec 10 21:29:12 PST 2012 Well you might be right sir, but they did not build roads for people to walk on...that's what they build sidewalks for. They build roads for VEHICLES to DRIVE on...it clearly says "hit Roady as she crossed the street"...She was in the street when a vehicle (not to mention a massive red truck as the vehicle) was there. She shouldn't have been there. That's logic, not ludicrous.

Keith Enisle Hoyt Tue Dec 11 12:54:36 PST 2012 they build intersections for pedestrians to cross the street. It did not say in the article where she was crossing. It appears to me that you are making a prejudicial assumption against the pedestrian and for the operator. Did this particular street have sidewalks? Did she cross at an intersection? Accidents happen all the time due to inattentiveness by the driver and likewise by pedestrians. My point was, the article does not state who was at fault, it does not advance the discussion to begin with an assumption about the event when none of us were witnesses to it. It is truly a tragic event for all parties, more so for Ms. Roady and her family, obviously.

Tim Schroeder Tue Dec 11 17:29:46 PST 2012 Actually Keith, they build intersections so that traffic on one street can cross another street. Sidewalks and cross walks are for pedestrians. Based on all the articles published she was crossing at an intersections, however, police can not say if she was in the cross walk or not.

Keith Enisle Hoyt Thu Dec 13 08:24:42 PST 2012 Thanks Tim, I really needed that clarification!

Kelly Tillis Tuesday, December 11, 2012 4:22:18 AM My Thoughts and Prayers Go out to everyone involved. Not easy for any. I can not imagine what it would feel like to have been the Fire Truck Operator. This is something tht will play over and over in his mind. The Family and Friends of Mrs Roady my Heart goes out to you all. God be with every one involved and say a Prayer that we never have such a tragidy ever happen again. No one is exempt......