By Adam Huening
The Greensburg Daily News
CLARKSBURG, Ind. — Emergency responders became entangled in the fray resulting from a single-injury accident at the Lake Santee fireworks display Saturday night when a fire truck apparently plowed into a group of bystanders.
Details on the incident continue to be worked out as the investigation is ongoing. The Decatur County Sheriff’s Department issued a press release with the basic information until the investigation is complete.
According to the press release, a 911 call was placed at 9:54 p.m., shortly after the fireworks display began, alerting responders of an incident on Santee Drive. The lake area was filled with people who had come out to watch the annual display. The Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Department was the first to respond, and the responders found a male subject on the ground who had fallen from a moving vehicle.
As the firefighters worked to help the injured person on the ground, and a group gathered around to watch the fireworks and the accident scene, the fire truck began to roll. The fire truck, which investigators have determined was unmanned, rolled forward into the crowd. It struck two pedestrians before slamming into an occupied parked car.
Denise Stevens, 38, of Columbus, and Tyler Houk, 21, Greensburg, were struck by the emergency vehicle as it rolled forward. Joann Delay, 39, Greensburg, was in the car that stopped the truck’s momentum. All four, including the initially injured male, were taken to Decatur County Memorial Hospital for treatment. It was unclear if the patients were taken elsewhere, but emergency helicopters in the area were grounded due to weather, according to emergency personnel.
The DCSD is fully investigating the incident, and details, the release says, will not be released until its completion.
In addition to DCSD and Clarksburg, Greensburg Fire Department; Decatur County EMS; Indiana State Police and St. Paul Police Department assisted at the scene.
Copyright 2009