Eight Children Escape Injury when Maryland Fire Truck Rolls Down Hill, Crashes into Tree

Motor vehicle accidents can happen almost anywhere throughout Maryland and nobody is immune. Even under the seemingly safest circumstances the tragedy of an injury accident or fatal car crash can be lurking just around the corner. As Baltimore trucking accident lawyers, my office takes nothing for granted when looking at the causes of these potentially life-threatening occurrences.

Whether someone is involved in a simple bicycle accident, motorcycle collision or commuter train wreck, the facts tell the story. Understanding those facts is one way of determining who the responsible party is. Every accident has its share of property, medical and associated costs, all of which can combine to place a strain on families who may or may not be already coping with a loss, such as the death of a loved one.

A recent accident in Pasadena, MD, reminds us that our most precious resource — our kids — can sometimes be placed in jeopardy. According to news reports, during a community event near Edgewater Road, a number of children were playing on one of the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company’s vehicles when it started rolling down a hill and struck a tree. Fortunately for everyone the eight children involved were unhurt in the accident, however a member of the fire company was injured in the Saturday afternoon incident.

According to reports, several children were on the fire engine throughout the day. Based on a statement from Battalion Chief Steve Thompson, at some point during the day the vehicle’s emergency brake was inadvertently released allowing the fire engine to roll down the hill. County firefighters received a call following the crash a little after 1pm.

The one injured firefighter, who attempted to stop the runaway vehicle, was treated and then taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie for further examination. Although the investigation had not been completed at the time of the article, defective vehicle equipment may or may not have been a factor in the crash.

Md. Fire Truck Rolls Away, Kids OK, Firehouse.com, April 24, 2010