Firefighter overturns tanker, receives citation

The firefighter was responding to an emergency call when he lost control of the truck and rolled it into a ditch; he was taken to the hospital with neck pain

March 24, 2016 09:58 AM

The Record-Eagle

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A Torch Lake Township firefighter was cited for traffic infractions and transported to the hospital after he overturned a fire truck while returning from an emergency call.

Justin Walkowiak, 31, of Elk Rapids, was driving north on U.S. 31 Wednesday when he lost control of a 2,000-gallon tanker truck and rolled it into a ditch as he attempted to make a left turn into the Torch Lake Township Fire Department driveway, Antrim County sheriffs officials said in a written statement.

The truck ended up in a ditch and investigators believe speed was a factor in the crash.

Walkowiak, who was not wearing a seat belt, was taken to Charlevoix Hospital with neck pain.

Deputies cited Walkowiak for speeding and for failing to wear a seat belt.