Summary:

• No other vehicles were involved in the accident
• The four Charlotte Firefighters on board were uninjured
• A fire engine from the Charlotte Fire Department's reserve fleet was quickly put into service to ensure proper coverage for east Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC -- On Wednesday, July 28, shortly after 6:00 p.m., Fire Engine #23 lost control in a curve on Robinson Church Road when its right front wheel left the pavement, causing the truck to cross the roadway and strike a tree.

Fire Engine #23, from CFD Station 23 located at 7400 East WT Harris Boulevard (Hickory Grove area of east Charlotte) was dispatched at 6:01 p.m. in response to an Emergency Medical call in eastern Mecklenburg County to assist the Robinson Volunteer Fire District.

In a curve at 7869 Robinson Church Road, the fire engine lost control after its front right wheel left the pavement.  The fire truck crossed over the roadway, crashed through a fence, and struck a tree, ultimately coming to a stop approximately 80 yards from the roadway.

No other vehicles were involved.  The four Charlotte Firefighters were not injured and were checked by a Medic and their supervisors on the scene.  The Firefighters were then released from duty and will return to their next regularly scheduled shift.  A fire engine from the Charlotte Fire Department's reserve fleet was quickly put into service to ensure proper coverage for east Charlotte.

At the request of the CFD, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department's Highway Interdiction Traffic Safety (HITS) unit responded and is the lead agency for the crash investigation.  The driver of the fire truck was taken in last night for a routine drug test, normal procedure following an accident of this nature.

A fire official responded to questions and concerns from the property owner at the scene.  A section of the fence line of the property was damaged.  Firefighters worked to make basic repairs to the fence line to keep the owner's cattle safely on his farm property.

Additional Firefighters were called to the scene to remove and salvage hoses, tools, and other fire equipment before the truck was towed away.  The fire truck was put into service in 2003.  Damage estimates will take several days to determine.