Two Firefighters Struck by SUV Outside Safety Harbor, FL, Fire Station
Two firefighters were struck after a car crashed into a fire station in Safety Harbor Friday morning.
Firefighters were taking part in morning duties on the front apron of Fire Station 53 around 9 a.m. when they were struck by an SUV.
Capt. Joseph Hans and Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Craig were both struck, the department shared in a station.
Hans, 50, was flown to a hospital where he is listed in serious but stable condition.
“His wife is with him at this time,” Safety Harbor Fire Chief Andrew Hawkins told WFLA.com during a press conference. “We were able to talk, have good conversations. He is certainly in good spirits, but he is currently being treated at this time.”
Craig, 36, was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Pinellas County Chief Deputy Paul Halley said the driver of the SUV, who one of his deputy's were assisting at the time of the crash, was taken to the hospital with injuries.
Halley told WTSP said the woman's SV was having mechanical issues, so the deputy was pushing the vehicle to a safe location but the driver missed that location and drove toward the fire station.
"She couldn't stop the vehicle and ultimately hit the firefighters and the vehicle...crashed into the building," Halley explained.
Peter Matthews | Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department.
