By Bob Susnjara
The Chicago Daily Herald
HAMPSHIRE, Ill. — Two Hampshire firefighters were injured after their engine crashed into a utility pole while on a driver-training exercise Sunday afternoon.
Kane County sheriff’s office Lt. Pat Gengler said the crash occurred about 12:15 p.m. on Kelly Road about a mile east of Harmony Road. He said that section of Kelly Road was closed to traffic more than three hours after the crash.
Gengler said firefighter Jeffery R. Becker, 21, was driving the 1986 Mack pumper east on Kelly Road when he crossed a hill and noticed a Ford pickup stopped in the westbound lane.
Becker drove onto the shoulder on the east side to avoid the truck, then struck the utility pole, authorities said.
Hampshire firefighters were summoned to the scene and extricated the lone passenger, Lt. Rick Heine, authorities said. Heine, 50, was flown in a helicopter to OSF St. Anthony Medical Center for treatment of injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening.
“It’s very tough,” Hampshire Fire Protection District Capt. Bill Robinson said. “The most difficult call you can go on.”
Gengler said Becker was taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin, where he was treated for minor injuries. Authorities said the 74-year-old Ford pickup driver, John Hanson of Hampshire, wasn’t injured.
Robinson said Becker and Heine were out for a driver training drill that’s required annually.
Gengler said no citations had been issued Sunday. He said authorities expected to have a complete picture of what happened today after an investigation by the Kane County sheriff’s office and an accident reconstruction team.
As for the 1986 Mack fire truck, Robinson said it’s out of commission and was Hampshire’s No. 2 engine. He said the department will
have adequate coverage with just its No. 1 engine.
Copyright 2009 Paddock Publications, Inc.