LITCHFIELD, N.Y. — A firefighter responding to a house fire Tuesday afternoon was struck a fellow firefighter with his personal vehicle.
Syracuse.com reported that firefighter Jared Thayer, 25, was driving his pickup truck toward a house fire when he struck the other firefighter.
Thayer, with the Cedarville Fire Department, had his emergency lights activated, and slowed as he came upon the fire and a vehicle parked on the shoulder, police said. Thayer said there was heavy smoke and low visibility in the area.
Just as he drove around the vehicle, he saw a man with a reflective fire coat running toward the shoulder to get out of his way, police said. Thayer was unable to stop before striking the man, according to the report.
The victim was another Cedarville firefighter, 61-year-old Raymond Jones. He was transported to a hospital with multiple fractures to his leg and arm.
Thayer was issued a ticket for failure to reduce speed under special hazards.
The fire is believed to have started accidentally.