Firefighter Injured After SUV Strikes Fire Truck On I-91 In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — A firefighter was injured after an SUV struck a fire truck while at the scene of a van fire on I-91 in Wallingford on Saturday, according to officials.

The Wallingford Fire Department responded to a van fire on I-91 North near Exit 14 on Aug. 16. Arriving crews found a van pulled to the side of the highway that had an engine fire but was extinguished before their arrival, according to a news release.

Officials said East Wallingford Volunteer Fire Department Engine 8 remained at the scene to monitor the van and assist Connecticut State Police with blocking the far right lane while police investigated and the towing company loaded the van for transport.

“During this blocking operation, Engine 8 was rear-ended by a mid-sized SUV causing heavy damage to that vehicle and minor damage to the fire apparatus,” officials wrote in the news release. “Engine 8 personnel were in the vehicle at the time of the accident, fortunately crews only sustained minor injuries resulting in one firefighter being transported by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation while the other two personnel remained on scene.”

The driver of the SUV was the lone occupant of that vehicle and was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries, according to officials.