HENDERSONVILLE. N.C. — Two firefighters were injured Wednesday after their fire truck slid off an icy road and down a steep hill. A third firefighter was hurt when he slipped on ice and fell at the scene.
Citizen-Times reported that the incident happened as firefighters, with the Mountain Home Fire Department, were responding to a traffic accident in on a steep mountain road.
The accident happened at a high elevation spot where precipitation froze on the road. The firefighters’ injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, according to the report.
Those injured included Lt. Matt Brackett, 31, an 11-year veteran of the fire department. He was transported to a hospital, where he was in stable condition with a broken collarbone and internal injuries, according to the report.
Rick Hodge, 51, an engineer and 19-year veteran of the department, was also taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released. Matthew Tweed, 25, a 5-year volunteer with the department, was injured when he fell on the ice at the scene. He also was treated and released from the hospital.
David Jones, 39, a fire department engineer, was in the fire truck when it rolled but was not injured.
Fire chief Mahlon Hudgins and scene commander Capt. Ben Lanning “wish to express their sincere thanks to the community and members of all the emergency service agencies both in and out of Henderson County for their tremendous outpouring of concern and support for their firemen during this morning’s events.”