Palm Harbor Firefighter Struck By Pickup Truck While Responding To Crash

PALM HARBOR, FL — A Palm Harbor firefighter is in critical condition after a pickup truck struck her at the scene of a vehicle crash early Wednesday morning.

According to Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, at 3:19 a.m., firefighters were called to a vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of U.S. 19 and Innisbrook Drive. A car driven by a 53-year-old Tarpon Springs man was stopped at the traffic signal in the inside lane and was struck from behind by a car driven by a 35-year-old Clearwater woman.

Upon their arrival, two fire trucks were blocking the left turn lane, inside lane and inside center lane when a GMC Denali pickup truck traveling north at a high speed struck the right sides of both fire trucks. The pickup truck continued north and struck a 38-year-old lieutenant with Squad 65, who was standing near the two crashed cars. The Florida Highway Patrol said the pickup truck then rotated and struck a fire hydrant.

Her fellow firefighters provided aid before transporting the lieutenant to Bayfront Hospital for multiple injuries. She is currently in critical but stable condition.

The driver of the Denali, a 26-year-old Ironton, Ohio, man was taken to AdventHealth North Pinellas where he was pronounced dead.

The drivers of the two cars in the original crash suffered minor injuries.

The northbound lanes of U.S. 19 between Colonial and Innisbrook drives were shut down until 9:40 a.m.