Jay R. Jordan
Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON — A Houston firefighter remains hospitalized Thursday morning after a driver crashed into the lounge area of an East End fire station late Wednesday.
Several firefighters were relaxing in the lounge at Houston Fire Station 18 at the intersection of Lockwood and Polk when all but one of them received a call for service around 10 p.m., according to HFD Asst. Chief Ruy Lozano. Moments later, an allegedly intoxicated driver careened off the street and slammed through the brick building, Lozano said.
The one firefighter who remained in the lounge was knocked unconscious by flying debris and was rushed to a nearby hospital. He lost consciousness at one point and possibly suffered a concussion, authorities said.
No other firefighters were hurt.
The driver, who was unscathed, will be charged with driving while intoxicated, according to Sean Teare, chief of the Harris County District Attorney’s Vehicular Crimes Division. Those charges could be upgraded as the investigation continues, Teare said.
“Had it occurred a few minutes earlier, a number of firefighters could have been directly in the line of this car,” Teare said. “While any one of our firemen being transported (to the hospital) is unacceptable, it’s a miracle that what we’re dealing with is right now is all we’re dealing with.”
The identity of the driver was not immediately released.
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