NBC Chicago /

News

Fire Truck Hits Building, Five Firefighters Injured Seven ambulances sent to the scene

Updated 8:02 PM CDT, Thu, Nov 6, 2008

Seven people are hurt when a fire truck smashes into a car, then into a building at Division and Wells.

 

A fire truck collided with a car and then struck a building in the Old Town Thursday afternoon, injuring seven people.

Five Firefighters Injured In Old Town Crash

Watch Video

Five firefighters are among the injured after a fire truck crashes into a building in Old Town.

The crash happened near the intersection of Division and Wells streets at around 3:15 p.m.   A Chicago Fire Department spokesman said the car struck the Engine No. 4, which then crashed into the building.  A fire then started beneath Engine 4.

Five firefighters and two other people are being transported to area hospitals for injuries. The two civilian victims were described as a woman and a child. The woman was hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, while the child was taken to Children's Memorial Hospital. The woman and child were traveling south on Wells when the incident occurred. None of the injuries were described as life-threatening.

"There was a little girl and her mother right there in the car," said one witness. "The little girl's mother was severely injured."  

Police video would be examined to determine what exactly happened in the crash, NBC5's Natalie Martinez reported.  

An EMS Plan 1 was called for the crash, and seven ambulances were sent to the scene.  The plan was secured just before 4 p.m.

The building was described as still being structurally sound, authorities said.

If you have pictures of the scene, e-mail them to isee@nbcchicago.com.

Comments (5)

Sort by: Most Recent | Oldest
  • f.f Friday, Nov 7 at 11:48 PM FLAG COMMENT when your house is on fire you wont think the fire department is driving recklessly... today 11/7 another fire department vehicle was hit on the southwest side... the driver of the other car was possibly drunk
  • Free American Thursday, Nov 6 at 4:52 PM FLAG COMMENT Ticket, ticket, ticket. While it is Illinois law to pull over and yield to emergency vehicles, people will continue along an their arrogant ways. Police, fire, ambulance, so few respect what they do. Total disregard for anyone else. I have seen an improvement over the last few years, but we all can do better.
  • careful here Thursday, Nov 6 at 4:21 PM FLAG COMMENT I find myself being VERY careful to watch for emergency vehicles... but there have been multiple occasions where they just were suddenly on top of me and I had no idea?!?! I don't think it's always that drivers are ignoring the sirens or lights, sometimes you just didn't hear them, or didn't see them! We all know we're smaller than a fire truck, so let's not be stupid. But sometimes the cops and firetrucks are driving reckl ... MORE >
  • EMS Thursday, Nov 6 at 3:49 PM FLAG COMMENT I agree, being a firefighter/medic in the suburbs, it's unbelievable how many people are completely oblivious to emergency vehicles anymore! Every shift I'm on, we have at least a few calls were WE have to stop for vehicles crossing our paths, turning in front of us or just refusing to pull over. You're too busy to take a few seconds out until you're the patient in the back, or your house is on fire, and then you'll be compla ... MORE >
  • Pay Attention People! Thursday, Nov 6 at 3:31 PM FLAG COMMENT I am so sick of people not pulling over for emergency vehicles. It's a disgrace.. Whoever is responsible needs to be held accountable. Until this happens, nothing will change. I pray there are no serious injuries.

Post a Comment

Name


Comment - You have 2000 characters left

Enter both words below, separated by a space, in the field located to the lower right. Can't read the words below? Try different words or an audio captcha. What's this?