By Paul Walsh
Star Tribune
CLEARWATER, Minn. — A Clearwater firefighter was severely injured Tuesday morning when a car struck a firetruck shortly after a vehicle blaze was extinguished on Interstate 94 in Stearns County, authorities said.
The crash happened about 7:15 a.m. on eastbound I-94 at Opportunity Drive near Clearwater, when the car hit the firetruck from behind and the firefighter as he was standing outside of the engine, according to the State Patrol.
Firefighter Cory Broich, 28, of the Clearwater Fire Department, was in critical condition at St. Cloud Hospital Tuesday. Patrol Capt. Matt Langer added that Broich’s condition has stabilized.
Broich, who lives in Clearwater and has been an on-call Clearwater firefighter for five years, is married and has five children, said Fire Chief Doug Nieters.
The driver of the car, Deborah Symalla, 43, of Cold Spring, Minn., was treated for injuries and released from the hospital.
Traffic in the area was disrupted for more than three hours.
Broich had driven one of two engines to the scene, Nieters said.
The vehicle fire was extinguished and firefighters on the scene were “just starting to wrap up” on the right side of the eastbound lane, the chief said. Broich was standing next to his engine’s door and disconnecting the hose, Nieters said. The other firetruck and at least one State Patrol squad car were in the right-hand lane to protect the scene, the chief said.
Symalla hit Broich and his truck, Nieters said, and Broich suffered severe leg injuries. Damage to the truck left it disabled.
Nieters, who has been with the department for 15 years and its chief for five, said, “As far back as I know, nothing like this has ever happened.”
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