FORT WORTH, Texas — Four firefighters in Fort Worth were sent to hospitals, and one was in critical condition, after their truck flipped over in a crash early Tuesday morning, according to the Fort Worth Fire Department.
Fire officials at the scene said the crash happened at about 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of Village Creek Road and Wilbarger Street.
One official said the firetruck was heading to a fire on Pecos Street when it lost control and flipped over.
One of the firefighters was critically injured, officials said. On Wednesday, the department said he was showing signs of improvement and is breathing on his own.
The second firefighter had surgery to repair damage in his neck and was released from the hospital Thursday.
The FWFD says they're both longtime firefighters who started in the same academy class 18 years ago.
"Both of them still have a long way to go but are trending upward at this time," the department said in a Facebook post.
The two other firefighters were treated and released from the hospital on Tuesday.
The firefighters involved were identified Wednesday as the following:
- Capt. Daniel Terrell, 48, who's been with the department 18 years and was moved out of the ICU.
- Clint Robinson, 42, who's been with the department 18 years and was released from the hospital Thursday.
- Matthew Schneider, 42, who's been with the department for 22 years and was released from the hospital Tuesday
- Devin Kuhn, 33, who's been with the department nearly 5 years and was released from the hospital Tuesday
As for the fire, officials said that happened in 4500 block of Pecos Street. One person was reported injured and six people have been displaced. No other information is available at this time.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker in a statement later Tuesday morning said "there was a horrible fire truck accident that injured four of our Fort Worth firefighters, one facing a critical injury."
"Our firefighters are always there for our community," Parker said, "and right now, we need the community's prayers for their recovery and healing. Updates soon."
"Two of the members are actually classmates of mine," said Michael Glynn, President of the Fort Worth Firefighters Association Local 440. "These are two members I came on the job with over 18 years ago. And to know that they are two of the ones that are still in the hospital right now, it definitely hit home."
The firefighter with the most severe injuries in the intensive care unit was sitting on the front passenger side of the fire engine.
The second firefighter who is still hospitalized was in the back left seat of the engine.
According to Fire Chief Jim Davis, their injuries range from strains, sprains and fractures to one of them with a head injury.
All four firefighters on the truck are seasoned members of the department.
"In order to work in busy areas of the city like that, it takes a special person with a special mindset and with a can-do attitude, a problem-solving and I think those are ways I would describe all four people that worked overnight last night on that fire truck," Davis said.
The Fort Worth Fire Department and the Fort Worth Firefighters Association Local 440 are supporting family members.
Note: The following video was filmed the morning of the accident.
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