Print Page - Firetruck loses brakes on hill, crashes into building

Title: Firetruck loses brakes on hill, crashes into building
Post by: Cougar5.0 on January 11, 2009, 01:54:41 PM

(http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2009/01/09/truck7__1231542694_0070.jpg)(http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2009/01/09/11__1231544741_2087.jpg)

This happened 2 blocks from where I grew up & my parents still live here (I'm here now.) Apparently a firetruck lost it's brakes going down Parker St. which is a very steep hill (see above.) Amazingly, there was no trolley in it's pathway and just a few cars were sideswiped. This is on Huntington Ave. which is a major thoroughfare. It crashed though a brick wall, then into a building where kids were playing on computers in a community center. Fortunately, the kids only had minor injuries.
(http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2009/01/09/truck9__1231542261_8924.jpg)

In this picture you can see the fire engine sticking out of the building (building is on left).
(http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2009/01/09/truck3__1231542468_3528.jpg)

Sadly, the fireman in the passenger seat of the truck was killed (decapitated.) :(

(http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2009/01/09/truck5__1231542519_5411.jpg)(http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2009/01/09/truck2__1231542424_5029.jpg)

Here is an interesting recreation of how the accident happened - CLICK HERE (http://"http://www.boston.com/interactive/graphics/fire_truck_crash/")

Title: Firetruck loses brakes on hill, crashes into building
Post by: V8Demon on January 11, 2009, 02:26:47 PM

Wow!

I had to direct traffic due to a freight train derailment here Thursday night. Luckily, there were no injuries with that.

Title: Firetruck loses brakes on hill, crashes into building
Post by: Cougar5.0 on January 11, 2009, 02:39:04 PM

Up where I live there was a 59 car pileup (http://"http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2009/01/11/chart_bus_cars_collide_on_snowy_nh_highway/") on the major interstate on which I often drive.

Quote

The crash happened around 9 a.m. between exits 3 and 4 in Derry and involved 46 cars, three buses, two tractor trailers and eight trucks, Webb said. It took emergency crews about an hour to remove one man from a car wedged under the back of a tractor trailer, but the man suffered only minor injuries.

Witnesses told WMUR-TV that a charter bus carrying a group of Boy Scouts from Massachusetts was at the front of the crash and was trying to avoid another car that had gone out of control. Another bus carrying the University of Massachusetts women's hockey team also was involved. Some of the women held up a sign saying "We are OK" after the doors to the bus were blocked by crashed cars.

Traffic was detoured to Route 28 until the highway was reopened around 1:30 p.m

.

I live off that stretch of 28 - glad I was staying at my parents place!!!

Title: Firetruck loses brakes on hill, crashes into building
Post by: Thunder Chicken on January 11, 2009, 03:14:27 PM

I saw that firetruck accident on TV (our Fox station is Fox Boston). I was wondering how it happened, as the TV reports showed only the firetruck stuck in the building, not the hill. It is truly amazing that there were not more deaths/injuries.

Title: Firetruck loses brakes on hill, crashes into building
Post by: Tbird232ci on January 11, 2009, 06:59:47 PM

It's odd that it lost its brakes. The air brake systems in the trucks are almost "safe guarded." If the brake system loses air pressure, the parking brakes are then engaged which would only lock up one axle worth of brakes, but sometimes enough to at the very least slow it down.

Title: Firetruck loses brakes on hill, crashes into building
Post by: Cougar5.0 on January 11, 2009, 07:21:44 PM

Crash Survivors Fault the Brakes (http://"http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/01/11/crash_survivors_fault_the_brakes/")

It's the working theory at this point, but not certain. Apparently this truck has had issues in the past. I grew up watching Ladder 26 go up and down Huntington Ave.

It is amazing that no bystanders were badly hurt - especially the kids in the building.

Title: Firetruck loses brakes on hill, crashes into building
Post by: Thunder Chicken on January 11, 2009, 07:44:07 PM

Quote from: Tbird232ci;251247

It's odd that it lost its brakes. The air brake systems in the trucks are almost "safe guarded." If the brake system loses air pressure, the parking brakes are then engaged which would only lock up one axle worth of brakes, but sometimes enough to at the very least slow it down.

...If it had air brakes. Juice brakes would fail just like a car. Some of our local fire trucks have juice brakes

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General => Lounge => Topic started by: Cougar5.0 on January 11, 2009, 01:54:41 PM