A brand new Columbus fire engine had a scrape with a billboard causing more than $250,000 damage to the apparatus that had been in service less than a week.
According to a newspaper article published by The Columbus Dispatch, city officials are scratching their heads trying to figure out why a firefighter drove under the well-lit billboard, which is about the size of a semi-truck in an empty downtown parking lot. The mishap occurred in early March at about 8 p.m. one evening and is being reviewed by the Columbus Fire Division, according to the newspaper.
The engine, which cost $550,000, was being operated by Firefighter Brian Murphy who said he was trying to get to other firefighters and paramedics who were helping a patient in an alley, the newspaper reported. He told investigators he didn’t notice anything warning him about the billboard or low clearance. He tried to drive under it and stopped when he heard lights breaking.
It appears the apparatus was half way, or more under the structure when it finally stopped.
The impact heavily dented the cab’s roof, ripped of several lights, damaged the pump and destroyed hose and tools carried on the truck, according to the paper. It also appears, from the photos, the impact tore off the deck gun which might explain the damage to the pump.
Murphy told investigators he wasn’t familiar with the new pumper and the new, smaller windshield design impaired his peripheral vision, the newspaper reported. The city is planning to repair the vehicle and will use funds from the department’s capital reserve funds to cover the quarter of a million dollar price tag, according to the news report.
When it does go back in service, city officials are not sure they want to put it back in the downtown station, claiming they are frustrated by the crash. An older engine might be assigned to the station, the paper reported.
Columbus reportedly investigates about 10 fire truck crashes per month including taillight and mirror breaks, the paper reported.
The collision with the billboard remains under internal investigation.
