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‘This is going to hurt': N.C. FF recalls being struck by car at MVC

Dashcam footage shows the moment a car hit a Cotton firefighter as he worked a crash scene in Cumberland County — sending him flying

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. — Dashcam video captured the moment a car struck a firefighter in Cumberland County while working at the scene of a motor vehicle collision, the Cotton Volunteer Fire Department reported.

The initial crash occurred at approximately 8:00 a.m. on May 2 on U.S. Highway 301 North. While first responders were working, a passing vehicle struck another car, a fire engine and Cotton Firefighter Waymon Hudson, WRAL reported.

“I looked at the car, and I remember saying ‘this is going to hurt,’” Hudson said. “I saw the sky, the road and I was lying down on the road looking at everyone looking down on me.”

The video also shows first responders rushing to aid firefighter Hudson, who was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He later shared that he broke five ribs and expects a 6-to-8 week recovery. In a Facebook post, Hudson wrote, “This was completely preventable. A lot of lives could have been lost here.”

According to the N.C. State Highway Patrol, the driver was cited for not having a valid license and failing to reduce speed. North Carolina’s move-over law requires drivers to slow down or switch lanes when approaching stopped emergency vehicles.


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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.