A Putnam County Fire Department vehicle suffered minor damage on Saturday night, after being hit by a passing car on Interstate 40. The incident occurred while first responders were attending to a roadside accident near mile marker 296 on the westbound lanes around 8 p.m., as confirmed by WSMV.
The fire truck, left unoccupied during the intervention, was subsequently struck by a driver who failed to adhere to the slow down and move over law. Prior to hitting the fire department's vehicle, it collided with two other cars. While no injuries have been reported, the sequence of collisions did cause considerable damage to the offending vehicle, as explained by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
A press release issued by the Putnam County Fire Department and sourced by WKRN stated: "While working this accident, a vehicle failed to slow down and move over appropriately, resulting in them striking two other vehicles before it struck a PCFD apparatus on scene." The damaged fire equipment, though hit, sustained only minor damage that does not compromise its operational capabilities. Notably, the vehicle that caused the accident now awaits judgment under the scrutiny of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The crash and the ensuing events are currently under investigation by the authorities to determine the exact cause and to enforce the applicable traffic laws. More information on the accident and safety measures for first responders on the road is available on the website of the Herald-Citizen.
