Susan McCord
The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Augusta Commission has agreed to pay nearly $600,000 for a wreck involving a fire truck and a pregnant woman.
According to settlement documents and an incident report obtained by The Augusta Chronicle, Augusta Firefighter Jerret Patterson was driving a Pierce Dash firetruck east onto Walton Way from Highland Avenue last July 4 when the crash occurred.
With emergency equipment active and using the southbound Highland lane due to stopped traffic, Patterson turned left onto Walton Way and struck the eastbound Nissan Altima driven by Briana Anderson, the report said.
Patterson told police his vision was obstructed by a large brick wall to his left, Anderson said she never saw the firetruck enter the intersection.
The commission agreed to settle all claims with Sage Carthern, to whom Anderson gave birth shortly after, for $425,000. Born prematurely, the infant had to be hospitalized for six weeks, according to the settlement agreement.
In the unanimous vote, the commission also settled with the parents of a boy who was in the back seat of Anderson’s car and suffered bruises and bleeding, for $80,000, as well as with Anderson for $75,000 for her injuries.
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