Bill Lilley
The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
AKRON, Ohio — Three Akron firefighters trying to free a man from a burning car early Sunday were struck by another vehicle.
Two of the firefighters were taken to a hospital, while the third was treated at the scene. Akron Fire Lt. John Shepherd, a 20-year veteran, described the double accident at the bottom of the Eastland Avenue hill as “the most amazing thing I’ve ever been involved in.”
“That was without a doubt the closest I’ve ever come to getting into serious trouble,” he said Sunday afternoon.
The chain of events began shortly before 2:30 a.m., when the fire department received numerous 911 calls from motorists who said a car was on fire after hitting a pole at Eastland and Wellington avenues.
“We got there a few minutes later and saw that the car was wrapped around the pole,” Shepherd said. “The biggest concern was that it was on fire and the driver was inside and unconscious.”
Shepherd said the driver’s side of the 2000 Plymouth Breeze was crushed and firefighters couldn’t just pull out the driver — Nicolas Bleibtrey, 35, of Coventry Township.
Shepherd, who had on fire gear, said he crawled into the car and shielded Bleibtrey from the fire while Capt. Larry Whytsell and firefighter Brett Baldinger worked to put out the blaze.
“We were really focused on putting the fire out, because it was really getting dangerous — life-threatening at that point,” Shepherd said.
“All of a sudden, all I could see were headlights coming at us. The next thing I saw was Capt. Whytsell flying up in the air. It was crazy.”
A 1997 Dodge Stratus driven by Charice Williams, 26, of Akron “came down the hill and lost control on the icy road,” careening into the crash scene, said Akron Fire Capt. James Case.
Whytsell, a 32-year veteran, was standing behind the burning vehicle and was struck by the Stratus. He suffered back and neck injuries and was treated at Akron City Hospital.
The Stratus then hit the Breeze. Shepherd said he was temporarily pinned in the Breeze.
“My leg was stuck in the back and I couldn’t move,” Shepherd said. “Some of the guys had to pull me out.”
Shepherd suffered a knee injury. He was treated at Akron City.
Baldinger, who will celebrate five years on the force next Monday, was standing in front of the burning car and was struck by the Breeze when it was hit by the Stratus.
Baldinger filed an injury report, but did not require hospital treatment.
“The road conditions were bad,” Shepherd said. “It was strange because it went from not being too bad out to being really bad in a real short period of time.”
Shepherd said the firefighters were able to extinguish the fire in the Breeze about 10 minutes after it was struck by the Stratus.
“The driver [Bleibtrey] was still unconscious and his legs were trapped so badly in there that it took another 30 to 40 minutes to extricate him,” Shepherd said.
Shepherd said Bleibtrey’s female passenger apparently was able to get out of the car immediately after it hit the pole. She was taken to Akron General Medical Center.
“She was a younger woman and had cuts and bruises all over her face,” he said. “She really couldn’t remember much of what happened.”
Shepherd said Bleibtrey remained unconscious throughout the hourlong ordeal. He was extricated shortly before 3:30 a.m. and taken to Akron City Hospital. He suffered serious injuries to his legs.
Williams, the Stratus driver, did not require medical attention.
Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards said both accidents are under investigation and no citations have been issued.
Copyright 2008 Akron Beacon Journal