Biographical Information
Age: 44
Cause of Death: Firefighter Grant was killed when the fire truck he was riding in collided with a school bus. Three other firefighters were also injured. Grant was riding in the back of the truck.
Additional Information: The Chicago firefighter was a 20-year veteran. He leaves behind three children.
By Frank Main and Stephanie Zimmerman
Copyright 2007 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
CHICAGO -- A 20-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department was killed today in an accident in which a fire truck and a school bus collided on the South Side.
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There were no children on the bus.
The accident happened just before 8 a.m. at 59th Street and Princeton Avenue, officials said.
Killed was William Grant, a 44-year-old father of three.
“Bill has two families,” Fire Commissioner Raymond Orozco said. “Those who are related by blood and those who wear the uniform. ... This is a sad day for the Chicago Fire Department. We lost one of our own this morning.”
Three other firefighters were injured in the accident as well as the driver of the bus. Grant was riding in the back of the truck.
The school bus, which was southbound on nearby Wells, clipped the rear of Truck No. 51, which was traveling west on 59th. On its way to a fire, the fire truck’s lights and siren were activated, officials and witnesses at the scene said.
 AP Photo/Charles Rex Argbogast Investigators check the bottom of a fire truck that was knocked on its side while responding to a call after a collision with a school bus in Chicago. One firefighter was killed and three others injured in the accident. The school bus had dropped off children at a school. The bus driver was injured. |
The fire truck was driving through a red light, and the school bus apparently did not stop in time, witnesses said.
“The fire truck tried to swerve around from hitting the school bus,” said Crystal Ross, who was at a nearby intersection. “Then it hit the pole and tipped over.”
The truck came to rest on its left side, having spun competely around. Ross said she saw the bus driver get out of the bus after the accident.
Orozco said he could not confirm details of the accident. He confirmed that the rear of the fire rig and the front of the bus was damaged in the accident.
The firefighters were taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital, Advocate Christ Medical Center, Stroger Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital. The bus driver was taken to St. Bernard Hospital’s.