Firefighter pinned underneath fire truck during rollover crash

UPDATE 9/19/22 @ 7:30 p.m.

MIDDLEPORT, Ohio (WSAZ) - An elderly volunteer firefighter underwent surgery Monday and remains in a hospital in Columbus after a rollover crash that happened Sunday.

Middleport Fire Chief Jeff Darst tells WSAZ the 72-year-old firefighter suffered fractures in his lower leg.

Darst says this could’ve easily been fatal, and they’re just grateful it wasn’t worse.

The chief says while returning from a call on Storys Run Road in Cheshire, the pumper truck the firefighter was driving rolled over the side of a hill, throwing the driver out and pinning his leg underneath the truck.

Nobody else was on board.

Other firefighters also on their way back saw the truck had flipped and used air bags to lift the truck and pull the firefighter out. He was then flown to a hospital.

Chief Darst says the injured firefighter had served on the Middleport Fire Department in the 1970s and 80s before leaving the area. He later moved back and just re-joined the department last year.

Darst said he’s well-liked by everyone, and he’s the kind of guy who’s always wanting to do whatever he can to help out.

The chief says the injured firefighter is expected to remain in the hospital nearly all week. He says he’s a “tough old bird,” though, and he expects him to be back serving with the fire department after he recovers.

The chief says the crash leaves them down to one pumper truck, and they’re looking at options about how to replace it.

He says they’d already ordered another new fire truck prior to this crash to replace an older one, but it’s not expected to be in until 2024 because of a backlog on orders.

Darst says the original call crews responded to was a motorhome being demolished that caught fire.

ORIGINAL STORY

MIDDLEPORT, Ohio (WSAZ) – Emergency crews had to rescue a first responder on Sunday evening following a rollover crash involving a fire engine.

According to the Middleport Fire Department, the driver of the fire truck was ejected during the crash and became trapped underneath the truck during the crash that happened along Story Run Road in Cheshire Township.

The fire department says engine 13 was returning from a fire run when the accident happened.

Other fire units returning from the same call were on the scene immediately and requested additional assistance.

Air bags were used to lift the truck and extricate the firefighter who was flown to OSU in Columbus with disabling injuries.

Assistance was received at the scene from Pomeroy FD, Rutland FD, Gallipolis FD, Meigs EMS, Gallia EMS, OSP, and Gallia SO.

Further information has not been released.

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