May 23, 2012
POWELL, Tenn. (WVLT)--Emergency crews responded to a late night accident on I-75 in Powell, where a possible drunk driver crashed. It happened at around 1:30am. The driver and his 5 year old passenger were transported to U-T Medical Center.
While they were working, three emergency vehicles were hit by an oncoming tractor trailer. Officials think the driver of the eighteen wheeler was speeding, and apparently he didn't see the activity on the side of the interstate. The truck driver clipped an ambulance and a fire engine, before slamming into the back of another fire truck.
Emergency responders were working on the shoulder and in the woods, and they're not sure how the tractor trailer clipped them. Rural Metro Battalion Chief Jeff Devlin says, it's pure luck none of the first responders were injured. He said, "as they were doing their jobs, they noticed that this eighteen wheeler was coming at a high rate of speed. Actually one of our firefighters even said, 'whoa, that guy is really moving.' But there was literally no time before they started seeing trucks start getting moved over, towards them. "
Devlin added, "thousands and thousands of people every hour are driving all over the place. We understand that. Most people do it safely, most people are trying not to do this. However, any moment like this that causes one more person to think a little bit clearer, pay a little bit more attention, slow down just a little bit...we certainly appreciate it."
Rural Metro's engine was totaled. They're using a back up truck for the time being. The Heiskell volunteer fire department's only truck was also damaged during the accident. Rural Metro is sending them a back up engine.
Chief Devlin says the driver of the car that crashed appeared to be drunk. His condition isn't known, but the child may have been critically injured. Tennessee Highway Patrol is still investigating both accidents.
