May 30--A Michigan teenager died late Monday night after the car she was riding in slammed into an unmanned fire engine that had responded to an unrelated traffic accident.
WDIV reports that Christina Carolin Snyder was taken to a hospital and died after the horrific wreck in Ypsilanti, while the driver and another teenage girl remain in serious condition.
Michigan State Police say that Charles Horn, 34, was driving with his 15-year-old daughter Michelle Rene and her friend Snyder when the collision happened.
Horn's SUV slammed into the back of the apparatus as it was blocking a lane of traffic to protect police and emergency personnel at the scene of a rollover.
"They were providing care to the patients and suddenly they heard a big boom and found out a car crashed into the fire truck that was protecting the right lane on I-94," Ypsilanti Fire Chief Max Anthouard said.
Firefighters on the scene needed the Jaws of Life to extricate Horn and the two girls from the SUV, but the apparatus was so badly damaged that they couldn't get to it, according to WDIV.
"It's a hard thing knowing that people need immediate help and you're not able to assist the victims," Anthouard said.
Another engine was called to the scene to provide the equipment.
It's unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, which remains under investigation, but WDIV said that Horn had a history of driving infractions, had just gotten his license back and spent time in prison for two armed robberies.
