Calif. Fire Truck`s Crash Is Its 2nd at Same Intersection

Dec. 31--The San Francisco Fire Department ladder truck that collided with a car in the South of Market was the same rig involved in a crash at the same intersection in June, authorities said Monday.

The fire truck and Mercedes-Benz station wagon collided at Fifth and Howard streets about 10:20 a.m. Sunday.

The crash happened when the driver of the Mercedes, heading west on Howard, failed to yield to the lights and sirens of the ladder truck traveling north on Fifth, said police Lt. Julian Hill.

A fire captain on the truck was treated for a head laceration, said Mindy Talmadge, a Fire Department spokeswoman. The driver of the Mercedes, a man whose name was withheld, complained of pain and was taken to a hospital before being released, Talmadge said.

The two drivers of the ladder truck -- one in the front, the other in the rear -- were tested for drug and alcohol use under department policy, and neither showed signs of being under the influence of any substances, Talmadge said. Their names were not released.

There were also no signs that the Mercedes driver was drunk, said Officer Albie Esparza, a Police Department spokesman.

The spot where the crash occurred is the same intersection where a firefighter suspected of being drunk struck a motorcyclist and left the scene June 29, authorities said.

The same ladder truck was involved in both crashes, authorities said. It is based at Station No. 1 at 935 Folsom St.

Authorities did not say Monday whether the ladder truck in the latest crash had a red or green light, but motorists by law are supposed to yield to emergency vehicles that have their lights and sirens activated.

Fire Department drivers who are responding with emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring must "control the intersection" before proceeding, meaning that they must either slow down or stop to ensure that it's safe before continuing, Talmadge said.

The fire-truck driver in the June incident, Michael Quinn, allegedly ran a red light while responding to what turned out to be a false alarm and hit motorcyclist Jack Frazier, who suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Quinn left the scene and did not return to Station No. 1 for several hours. Sources have said a surveillance camera filmed him guzzling water at a bar at Fifth and Howard streets after the crash.

Quinn resigned after being hit with several department misconduct charges. He has not been charged with breaking the law.

In November, Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White notified Assistant Chiefs Art Kenney and Dave Franklin that they could be suspended for 10 days and eight days, respectively, for their actions the night of the crash, according to sources familiar with the investigation. The basis for the possible suspensions has not been made clear.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @henryklee

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