ST. GEORGE — Fire truck Ladder 21 will be out of operation for several weeks after it was hit head-on by the driver of an industrial-sized forklift.
Utah Tech University police officer Krystal Powell said the St. George Fire Department was responding to a medical incident near 230 South on 1000 East on Tuesday, but due to limited parking in the apartments near the area, the fire truck was parked in the center turn lane with lights activated.
“They were responding to a medical call when the fire truck was struck by one of those big forklifts,” she said.
St. George Fire Department Chief Robert Stoker told St. George News that a construction worker was traveling north on 1000 East with two large bundles of insulation panels — also driving in the center lane — and rammed the fire engine.
“He said he couldn’t see over the load, hit it head-on,” Stoker said. “The damage to the front of Ladder 21 was significant. The forks pushed the radiator into the motor and caused damage to the cabin. Not sure of the total damages but it could be out of service for a couple months.”
Due to loss of fluids, the fire engine had to be towed from the scene. The forklift was able to drive away from the scene with damage to the load it was carrying.
Information on whether a citation was issued to the driver of the forklift was not immediately available, but Stoker noted no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
“The fire engine was completely stopped and all my crew was out of the truck helping Gold Cross medical staff with a patient,” he said. “So no injuries were reported.”
According to Ladder 21’s manufacturer, the 2017 Pierce Velocity public utility commission vehicle features an inline 6 Cummins ISX12 engine, a 500-gallon water tank with 20 gallons of foam and a pump that can produce 1,500 gallons per minute when hooked to a hydrant.
The truck was delivered to St. George on Jan. 12, 2017.
Photo Gallery
A fire truck was hit by a forklift driver on 1000 East near Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah, Feb. 6, 2024 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News
St. George Fire Department releases water from Ladder 21 before it can be loaded onto a tow truck in St. George, Utah, Feb. 6, 2024 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News
A fire truck was hit by a forklift driver near Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah, Feb. 6, 2024 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News
A fire truck being towed after it was hit by a forklift driver near Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah, Feb. 6, 2024 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News
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