Firefighters Injured in Rollover Accident
A rollover accident sent eight woodland firefighters to a hospital on Friday, August 11.
What Happened?
Contracted firefighters working for Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression Inc. were traveling in a convoy of transport trucks to the Parker 2 Fire in the Modoc National Forest. While making their way along State Route 299 near Cedarville, California the first truck slammed on its brakes to avoid hitting a deer that walked out onto the road in front of the convoy. The last truck in the group veered off the road to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front of it and drove up a roadside embankment. As the truck climbed the embankment it ended up flipping over.
The truck contained eight occupants and all eight of the firefighters in the truck were taken to a hospital with moderate to severe injuries. California Highway Patrol Officers responded to the scene. As of 3:08 p.m. on August 11, seven of the eight firefighters were released from the hospital and the other one was still being evaluated by medical professionals. The spokesperson from Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression Inc. told reporters and investigators that the Incident Management Team for the Parker 2 Fire has been in steady communication and doing everything they can to help the situation.
The Parker 2 Fire is nearly an 8,000-acre fire that is burning in the mountains of the Modoc National Forest. It is located 11 miles east of Alturas, California. Firefighting crews have secured and contained the fire within a closely monitored perimeter. The fire has taken out only one structure so far which was the Middle Fork Parker Creek Bridge. National Forest Staff and others are working to rebuild it. The fire is currently manned by a crew of 690 personnel who are maintaining the perimeter and containing any flare-ups as the fire continues to burn itself out.
Following Distance
Keeping a safe following distance can ensure that you have enough time and space to react to the actions of the vehicle ahead of you. Human reaction times vary from person to person and situation to situation. When driving a vehicle we must factor in a reasonable amount of time for our own reaction time and enough distance to be able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop if needed. Following too closely can be dangerous and considered reckless driving. In order to prevent a car accident, allow plenty of room between you and the motorists around you.
According to smartmotorist.com a “3-second driving rule” is recommended for driving at normal speeds under favorable conditions. To follow the rule you wait for the car in front of you to pass a milepost, tree, or another easy marker on the road and once it passes it, you count the number of seconds it takes for you to pass it. If it takes you 3 seconds or more, most situations that arise will give you enough time to react and stop. Under less favorable conditions such as wet or icy roads, low visibility, or heavy loads in your vehicle it is wise to lengthen or double the “3-second rule”. This practice will help you avoid a car accident.
Redding Personal Injury Lawyer & Car Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Redding personal injury lawyer. If you have been injured in an accident due to a negligent or careless person, call me at 530-392-9400 or 800-404-5400. My 35 years of local experience can help you recover your losses. Have a look at how I have helped other people in similar instances on my past verdicts and settlements page.
My website, autoaccident.com is also a good resource for anyone involved in a car accident, personal injury, or wrongful death case.
Client Reviews:
You can find my name on the Milliondollaradvocates.com as a trial lawyer who has won a million dollars or more in case settlements or verdicts.
Other car accident articles by Redding personal injury lawyer, Edward A Smith:
- South Lake Tahoe 3 Car Accident
- Man Dies After Crashing into Tree in Redding
- Yolo County Man Dead After Intersection Crash
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