For second time in 7 months Charlotte’s Ladder 32 turns over while responding
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STATter911.com coverage of previous crash
For the second time in seven months Charlotte Fire Department’s Ladder 32 has overturned during a response. In today’s (Sunday) crash the driver of Ladder 32 was briefly hospitalized with a hand injury. The previous incident occurred in early May when another ladder truck assigned to Station 32 overturned and caught fire. Video of that crash and details are below.
Authorities said the fire truck was responding to a fire alarm activation call when it crashed and overturned on Community House Road around 3:30 a.m.
There were four firefighters on Charlotte Fire Department Truck 32 at the time. The driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The other firefighters are OK.
The single vehicle crash happened on the 9500 block of Community House Drive near Johnston Road and Community House Middle School in Charlotte.
Charlotte police say the station 32 ladder truck turned over in a yard while responding to a fire alarm call.
In May, another truck from Station 32 was involved in an accident at the intersection of Ardrey Kell and Bridgehampton Club roads while crews responded to a medical call.
In that crash, four firefighters were also on board and treated for minor injuries. The crew members involved in the May crash were not the same as those involved in Sunday’s crash, officials said.
Investigators determined that speed was the contributing factor in the May accident, when firefighter Mark Staker drove the truck 44 mph in a 25-mph speed zone. The truck turned on its side, skidded on the road about 25 feet before it caught fire, resulting in about $800,000 in damage.
After an internal investigation, Staker was suspended for two weeks without pay, and the on-board captain, whose name was not released, was suspended for one week.
