Four Buffalo Firefighters Hurt After Car Slams Into Engine

Four Buffalo firefighters were injured late Monday when a sedan plowed into their fire engine as they responded to an emergency call on Michigan Avenue near the downtown medical campus, a fire official said.

The four firefighters and the driver of the car were taken to Erie County Medical Center for treatment of injuries that didn't appear to be life-threatening, Battalion Chief Michael Biasillo told The Buffalo News at the scene of the crash.

Engine 1 was heading north on Michigan Avenue, entering the intersection with Goodell Street, at 9:15 p.m. to respond to a 911 call at 865 Michigan Ave., Biasillo said.

It appears the sedan was entering the intersection traveling west on Goodell when it struck the fire engine, he said.

The impact sent Engine 1 onto the northwest corner of the intersection, where the fire engine came to a stop. The passenger-side corner of the engine's windshield had spider-web cracking and the front passenger side door and frame had minor damage.

The sedan, with a severely crumpled front end, came to a rest in the middle of the intersection, pointing north on Michigan near St. John Baptist Church.

The driver of the sedan told emergency responders that he didn't see Engine 1, which had its lights and siren activated and had the right of way at the intersection, Biasillo said.

The Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit was on the scene.

An investigation continued late Monday.

The names of the firefighters and the other driver were not immediately released and their conditions were unavailable.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service