Like
Grim. Traffic was stopped for an hour and a half on I65 north at about 318 last night with a 3-vehicle accident: a semi smashed the guard rail on a bridge to flinders. Then the fire and rescue truck that showed up to help was hit by a car. No injuries, but it emphasizes that those guys have a risky job.
You’re certainly welcome for whatever small service I render. It’s surprisingly common for rescue vehicles to be struck while stopped at traffic incidents. One of the things responders are trained on is how to park those vehicles defensively, in the hope they will protect dismounted responders. You’ll see a fire apparatus parked at the rear, because it is big and heavy and can absorb blows; it’ll be parked angled away from the crash, so if a semi hits it and shoves it the motion won’t carry into the responders. They’ll park far enough away, if conditions permit, to allow the ambulance to shelter by the wreck protected by the fire truck. There’s protocols for placing police vehicles as well.
ReplyDeleteSomehow the flashing lights don’t work on some drivers, but mesmerize instead. It comes up all the time.
Wrecker operators are statistically in most danger, though. Those guys are really putting their lives on the line.
See Douglas' comment here
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes, we try to use retro reflective stuff and lights, but are still often invisible.
ReplyDelete