Firefighter Tragically Killed by Semi-Truck Trying to Help Crash Victims

LEXINGTON, SC- Wloa.com writes that a firefighter in South Carolina was hit by a semi-truck while he was attempting to aid crash victims on Fairview Road. The firefighter was on his way to a medical call when he saw the crashed vehicle on the side of the roadway and stopped to assist. A semi-truck hit the firefighter after he got out to provide aid to the victims of the first crash.*

The firefighter was transported to a local hospital where he later died from the injuries he sustained in the accident. The state highway patrol is still investigating the collision and has not stated whether or not charges will be filed.

First responders have a hazardous job and are often injured in the line of duty. One of the leading causes of firefighter fatalities are traffic accidents. In 2017, 10 firefighters were killed because they were struck by vehicles while responding to the scene of an emergency. Police officers are similarly at risk for these types of accidents. The threat also extends to to-truck operators, 40 to 50 of whom are killed each year in similar incidents. 

When looked at collectively, the danger of traffic-related death is about 4.8 times as high in emergency responders as it is for the general population.  

Laws exist to try to limit the risks to first responders, but the number of injuries and deaths each year indicate that there is still a lot to be done if we wish to help protect the very people who we count on to protect us in the event of an emergency. It is important to remember to give emergency responders space on the road, to move over when we hear sirens, and to slow down around the scene of an accident.

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Source:https://wlos.com/news/local/south-carolina-firefighter-killed-by-semi-while-helping-at-crash-site