6 Hurt When Forest Service Fire Truck Sideswiped in Calif.
July 12--A U.S. Forest Service fire truck crashed on Highway 168 east of Clovis Sunday when it was sideswiped by a Kia Sorrento that tried to pass on the right side, the California Highway Patrol said. Six people were injured, one critically.
CHP said the call came in just past 7:30 a.m. The crash occurred where the road curves between East Shepherd and North Academy avenues.
The fire truck was driving around 55 mph in front of the Kia. The Kia attempted to pass the fire truck on the right side in the intersection at Shepherd Avenue.
The Kia's driver, 53-year-old Maria E. Constable of Fresno, collided her driver's side door with the front right wheel of the fire truck. The collision caused the truck's driver, Derek Solden, 29, of Mariposa, to lose control and forced it off the roadway, rolling four times before landing on its right side in a barren field.
The Kia's driver also lost control and rolled twice before her vehicle landed on its rooftop.
A Life Flight helicopter transported victims to the hospital. CHP said all five firefighters were injured, one critically. The driver of the Kia suffered minor injuries and was not transported to the hospital.
Solden suffered major injuries. The Forest Service said he and a passenger who suffered moderate injuries -- identified by the CHP as Lee Sands, 37, of Groveland -- were transported to Community Regional Medical Center.
Three other passengers who received minor injuries -- Ben Jongerward, 32, of Groveland, Ryan Baker, 28, of Yosemite, and Brittany Dowden, 29, of Madera -- were transported to Saint Agnes Medical Center. Two have since been released, but one was admitted to Community Regional for observation.
The Forest Service said the firefighters were traveling from their hotel to the High Sierra Ranger District in Prather. There are currently no fires in the Sierra National Forest.
Dave Cooper, acting forest fire management officer for the Sierra National Forest, said the truck's driver remains in critical but stable condition.
Everyone wore their seat belts, CHP said. No one was arrested but the accident is still under investigation.
Andrea Castillo: 559-441-6279, @andreamcastillo
Copyright 2015 - The Fresno Bee
