IFD firetruck crashes while responding to fatal east side accident; 4 firefighters injured
This story has been updated to include more information on the firetruck rollover, the fatal crash, and the victim’s name.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — At least one person died and four firefighters were hurt in two separate crashes at the same east side intersection late Saturday morning.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office identified the person who died as 20-year-old Deondrey R. Pirtle.
Online police reports show Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers and Indianapolis Fire Department crews were dispatched to the intersection of East 30th Street and Massachusetts Avenue around 11:20 a.m. on a report of an accident with injuries.
The call type for the accident was soon changed to an “accident fatal.”
News 8 later learned from officials on the scene that there were two separate crashes at the same intersection: A fatal accident involving a semitruck and another vehicle, and another crash involving a rolled-over IFD firetruck.
An IFD spokesperson told News 8 that two firetrucks were en route to the fatal crash when they came across another semi hauling a wide load and blocking the street. Both trucks slowed down to pass, and one firetruck made it around safely.
The other firetruck couldn’t get around the wide load the entire way and rolled over when trying to pass.
Four IFD firefighters were injured in the crash. Nearby Indiana State Police troopers assisting with the wide load delivery helped provide medical aid until emergency services arrived.
The injured firefighters were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. IFD said in an update Sunday that two of the firefighters were admitted to the hospital with serious injuries, while the others were treated, released, and remain off-duty for recovery.
Pirtle was pronounced dead on arrival, IFD said. It was unclear if the semitruck driver or anyone else was injured in that crash.
IMPD says a fatal crash investigation team would be on scene for some time. They didn’t say how traffic would be impacted.