WATERBURY, Conn. --
Firefighters in Waterbury paid tribute Thursday to a member of the department who was killed when two fire trucks collided while responding to a call in 2007.
The crash more than two years ago took the life of Captain John Keane. The memory of that crash led the department to a special honor as they were recognized for 100 percent seatbelt use on Thursday. "Deputy Chief Rick Hart came to me and said, 'There's a program out there, let's see if we can get the department to practice,' " said Waterbury Fire Chief Michael Maglione.
Waterbury is the first department to achieve 100 percent after losing a member to a crash. Keane was one of 12 firefighters nationwide killed in crashes in 2007, and vehicle crashes is the No. 2 cause of line-of-duty deaths for firefighters.
"The officers and firefighter of Waterbury are sending a powerful message to the fire service that we need to wear our seatbelts," said Dr. Burt Clark of the National Fire Academy.
Whether they're speeding to a working fire or heading around the corner to pick up dinner, every man and women in the department will be buckled up -- a tribute they say Keane would be proud of.
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