OH Fire Apparatus Totaled in Wreck

Sept. 27 -- NEWCOMERSTOWN, OH -- A fire truck hit a tanker truck on U.S. Route 36 just east of state Route 258 around 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to Sgt. William Bower of the State Highway Patrol.

The firefighter driving the Newcomerstown Fire Department truck, Heather Stein-Wells, 42, was ejected from the truck. She suffered a broken hand, scrapes and required stitches at Coshocton Regional Medical Center.

Fire Chief Robert McGarry, who was in the front passenger seat, also suffered minor injuries, which he described as bruising and strained muscles. He was treated at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital.

McGarry said he and Stein-Wells were released from the hospitals after treatment.

Bower said the accident occurred as the eastbound fire truck tried to turn left from the right lane toward a crossover, hitting the tanker truck that was in the left eastbound lane.

The Newcomerstown Fire Department truck then hit an embankment and fence, according to Lt. Mark Glennon, of the highway patrol.

The door of the fire truck was ripped off.

McGarry said the 1997 Pierce-Arrow fire engine is a total loss. The fire department has insurance.

The fire department is a separate entity from village government.

The department's remaining apparatus includes another fire engine, a ladder truck and a rescue truck, according to McGarry.

No citation has been issued as a result of the collision, which occurred on a non-emergency trip. Bower said the final crash report will be reviewed with the prosecutor.

Wells told the highway patrol that she put on her seat belt, but might not have fastened it completely, Glennon said.

The driver of the tanker truck, from Akron, was not injured, Bower said. There were no leaks from the tanker.

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