The family of fallen Boston firefighter is suing six companies contracted by the city to work on the braking systems of the fire truck he died in last year, according to The Boston Globe.
Lt. Kevin M. Kelly died on Jan. 9, 2009, after Ladder 26 suffered catastrophic brake failure and sped down Parker Hill Avenue in the Mission Hill neighborhood before crashing through the side of a building.
Named in the lawsuit are: Bay State Auto Spring Manufacturing Co., Boston Freightliner Inc., Broadway Brake Corp., Damian Diesel Inc., Suspension Specialists Inc. and Woodward's Auto Spring Shop Inc.
The lawsuit claims the companies were in negligent, provided faulty work, installed the wrong parts and failed to recognize the mistakes through proper inspection, according to the report.
"We didn't really do anything to that vehicle," Broadway Brake President Philip D'Angelo told the newspaper. "We did a state inspection on that vehicle a year before, so I know it's not going anywhere as far as we're concerned."
Damian Frattasil, former president of now-defunct Damian Diesel, told the newspaper that said his company never worked on the truck’s brakes and only "looked at" its engine.
Representatives from the other companies did not return calls made by the newspaper.
The family claims that the actions of the companies left Ladder 26 with severely reduced brakes in the right rear wheels and no braking power in the left rear wheels, which contributed to the tragic incident.
"My father was a good man and a hero to the end," Susan Kelley, said in a statement. "I hope that these mistakes will be prevented from happening again so that no other firefighter will have to die needlessly."
