The Associated Press

MASSILLON, Ohio — A fire truck responding to a call collided with a van at an intersection today, killing a hearing-impaired man and his grandson in the van and injuring four firefighters, investigators say.

Fire officials say the ladder truck — operating with lights, a siren and horn — was responding to a call of a vehicle fire about 8:30 a.m. when it collided with the van at an intersection marked by stop signs and a four-way blinking traffic light.

The fire truck hit the 1996 Dodge Caravan broadside and pushed it about 100 yards. A witness, Danny Clark, said he ran onto the street after the crash and saw the child on the ground.

Family members said the van's driver, Ronald E. Anderson, 72, of Massillon, was hearing impaired, said Rick Walters, a Stark County coroner's investigator. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene.

His grandson, Javarre Tate, 4, also of Massillon, was pronounced dead at Affinity Medical Center Doctor's Campus, said Lt. J.P. Smith of the State Highway Patrol, which investigated the crash at the request of Massillon police.

Walters said Anderson's wife collapsed when she arrived at the scene after the crash and was hospitalized. Anderson was taking the boy to preschool when the crash happened.

The patrol said the four firefighters had minor injuries.

Officials with Massillon schools said Anderson was a custodian at a high school and had worked in the district for nearly 16 years.