[WFD1696]

Just a reminder to keep one eye on the road when responding on the parkways...

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"GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) -- State police are investigating a crash on Interstate 95 in Greenwich that killed two people Sunday.

Troopers say Reynaldo Sanchez, 23, of Stamford and Jacqueline Bardales, 26, died after their car slammed into a Greenwich fire-police patrol truck Sunday morning. A third person in the car, Gerson De Leon, 24, of Stamford, was hospitalized with serious injuries.

The patrol truck was stopped in the center lane of I-95 northbound near Exit 4 as rescuers responded to another accident. No one was in the truck at the time.

Police say the center and right lanes were blocked off with flares and the patrol truck had its flashing lights on. No word yet on why the accident happened.

Authorities say Sanchez and De Leon were wearing seat belts. It's not clear if Bardales, who was in the back seat, was wearing hers.

The accident occurred as police, firefighters and paramedics were responding after a car smashed into a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of the highway. A woman driving the car suffered abdominal injuries."

[doitallboy]

One of our biggest fears when working on the parkway. Even the shoulders are not safe. When in doubt, take the lane out.......

[fdnyguy]

Screw it. Buy a surplus state dump truck with the fold down accident absorption barricade. Roll it on every MVA, and add the biggest fold down arrow light you can find. Hit that, it can be replaced.

Of course, rolling it just for MVA's may be a dumb idea to some. Rolling a tower ladder or any other FD vehicle that may get hit totals them or puts it out of service for a long time in the body shop. Admit it would be tough getting out with manpower, but beats the tons of "what if's" after an incident where civilians and/or firemen are killed.



Then put a plow on it to do the apron when it snows........ JMO.

[OB]

its a shame but unfourtunately it will happen again

[WFD1696]

Originally Posted by fdnyguy

Screw it. Buy a surplus state dump truck with the fold down accident absorption barricade. Roll it on every MVA, and add the biggest fold down arrow light you can find. Hit that, it can be replaced.

I like that idea! I wonder if anyone has ever mounted one of those barricades on a heavy rescue or other apparatus...

[WFD*SOC]

I could only imagine that being a future regulation such as the new soon to be mandatory nfpa striping on the back of apparatus (looks like a road sander)

I understand safety is always a concern, but when is enough enough? you can not prevent unforseen events but i guess were just going to keep trying....

[fdnyguy]

Originally Posted by WFD*SOC

I could only imagine that being a future regulation such as the new soon to be mandatory nfpa striping on the back of apparatus (looks like a road sander)

I understand safety is always a concern, but when is enough enough? you can not prevent unforseen events but i guess were just going to keep trying....

Good point. I always believed you can be too careless with tragic results, and you can be too cautious and get the same. The surplus dump truck with a accident absorption barricade was a crazy thing I typed on a whim. With getting an engine, rescue and a bus or 2, by the time this whim of mine got there traffic would be so packed, it would defeat the purpose.

As for this rig, not a bad idea, but not a solution, either. Nowadays, we all see the a$$holes driving 90 mph past a scene with NO due regard. FDNY lost a fireman this way in 1984, and now you get ladder companies on a car to block way for the engine. Better to hit a ladder than the Brothers.

But the vollies don't have the abundance of spare rigs the city has, and thank God not in the same condition they are in too. So while I have no problem with a rig or 2 or more to block traffic, when one of these a$$holes plows into a nice new rescue at a high rate of speed, how long will you be without it?

Yes, I know you can replace a rig, and not a life. So my whim of an idea, while not logistically feasible, would save a rig from getting put out of service for a month or 3. With this incident that started the thread, and a fireman in Illilnois (or Indiana) killed by a bus at 4 am a short time back, I wouldn't care if someone took my whim and did something with it. But visibility is the key, so this set up on this particular rig pictured does give good visibility, as does an arrowstick on the back of the rigs.


We read reports of arguments between PD and FD over road closings. Maybe a sitdown with the respective precinct commanders and/or highway, using these two incidents, they can understand why we want the road closed. And they can explain why they have to keep traffic moving. Its tough either way, but while bad enough these two people were killed, luckily no firemen or cops were killed either. BOTH sides I'm sure have no problem with that. And you can put my whim of a truck with the barricade behind the trooper. Won't damage that truck like the cop car when the a$$hole blows in at 75+ mph because he was in a hurry and/or drunk. Many cops have been killed or severely injured as well on highways getting rear ended at 75+ while blocking traffic lane(s).

While the barricade on a rig would be great, it involves a lot of hydraulics, and bolting to the frame. The space you would lose, the cost involved, etc. just isnt worth it. Hell, load the dump truck with the barricade, a giant arrow and 4 tons of speedy dry. Tilt the bed, and ya got what ya need..


Remember, a crazy idea on a whim. Back to my rubber walled room.


Stay safe, stay well.