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The Detroit Fire Dept. Embarrrassment To The Fire Service Once Again.
DETROIT -- A Detroit firefighter was accused of driving after drinking when he drove a department ladder truck into the back of a car Tuesday, then left the accident scene.
The firefighter, along with a second firefighter who witnessed the accident and also left the scene, was suspended without pay Wednesday, said Fire Commissioner Charles Wilson. The firefighters have not been charged with any crimes yet.
Wilson declined to name the firefighters, but said they face dismissal if the allegations are proven.
The accident, which was minor, occurred about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday while two firefighters were returning Ladder 23 from the department's repair garage to its fire station at Houston-Whittier and Gratiot.
The driver of the 26-ton fire truck allegedly hit a car stopped to turn off Gratiot onto Devine. Apparently unaware he had hit a car, the firefighter drove off until he was flagged down by the car's driver. The second firefighter, driving a personal vehicle behind the fire truck, also pulled over.
The three apparently agreed to handle the situation privately and not involve the police, Wilson said. The car's driver later told police that the fire truck driver smelled of alcohol.
When the firefighters returned to Ladder 23's quarters, they both left work without explanation even though they were supposed to be on duty until Wednesday morning.
The driver of the car then apparently changed his mind and reported the accident to fire officials. The fire department turned the case over to Detroit police's internal affairs section.
Fire officials were not able to track down the firefighters for several hours until the one who wasn't driving the rig showed up at the station around 11 p.m. He declined to give a statement, and police officers did not give him a sobriety test, Wilson said.
The driver of the fire truck was located Wednesday morning.
[This message has been edited by Ladder Man (edited 04-01-2001).]
The firefighter, along with a second firefighter who witnessed the accident and also left the scene, was suspended without pay Wednesday, said Fire Commissioner Charles Wilson. The firefighters have not been charged with any crimes yet.
Wilson declined to name the firefighters, but said they face dismissal if the allegations are proven.
The accident, which was minor, occurred about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday while two firefighters were returning Ladder 23 from the department's repair garage to its fire station at Houston-Whittier and Gratiot.
The driver of the 26-ton fire truck allegedly hit a car stopped to turn off Gratiot onto Devine. Apparently unaware he had hit a car, the firefighter drove off until he was flagged down by the car's driver. The second firefighter, driving a personal vehicle behind the fire truck, also pulled over.
The three apparently agreed to handle the situation privately and not involve the police, Wilson said. The car's driver later told police that the fire truck driver smelled of alcohol.
When the firefighters returned to Ladder 23's quarters, they both left work without explanation even though they were supposed to be on duty until Wednesday morning.
The driver of the car then apparently changed his mind and reported the accident to fire officials. The fire department turned the case over to Detroit police's internal affairs section.
Fire officials were not able to track down the firefighters for several hours until the one who wasn't driving the rig showed up at the station around 11 p.m. He declined to give a statement, and police officers did not give him a sobriety test, Wilson said.
The driver of the fire truck was located Wednesday morning.
[This message has been edited by Ladder Man (edited 04-01-2001).]
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