STATter 911

Two firefighters from the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department in Frederick County, Maryland are recovering after an accident Tuesday that heavily damaged the department's brush truck. Thirty-six-year-old Robert Smith was behind the wheel of Brush 175, when according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Department, the passenger-side, front tire failed. The truck hit an embankment and a guard rail on I-70 westbound near Mount Phillip Road.

Smith, and passenger Dennis Shelton, 42, were taken to area hospitals. According to a sheriff's department press release, "The investigation indicates both were restrained by seat belts when the crash occurred".

A call to Libertytown VFD indicates both men are doing well. The truck was heading to a parade when the crash occurred.

Brush 175 is a 1999 Ford F550 and carries 300 gallons of water.

In an email on Monday, Dr. Burton A. Clark of the National Fire Academy, reminded STATter 911, that so far this year, 10 firefighters have died in the line-of-duty in the United States in crashes where they were not wearing seat belts. Dr. Clark wrote:

Not using seat belts is the number one safety violation in the fire service. Crashes are the number 2 cause of LODDs. How many more names need to be added to the list?

Please get your readers to take the National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge and buckle up.