On Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 4:49 a.m., firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded in Brush 5, and Ambulance 59 for a priority 1 medical call in the 7200 block of Southern Maryland Boulevard (Route 4).
During the incident, Brush 5 provided barrier protection for the safety of the crew and patient onboard Ambulance 59.
For unknown reasons, a vehicle traveling in the direction of the incident, struck Brush 5 at approximately 50 mph.
The crew was inside of Brush 5 when they were struck but fortunately no injuries were reported. (including the driver of the striking vehicle).
Local law enforcement are currently investigating the accident.
Updates will be provided when they become available.
On Monday, October 26, 2020, at approximately 7:50 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Patuxent Beach Road and Three Notch Road in California, for the motor vehicle collision with injuries. While travelling in the Northbound lanes on Patuxent Beach Road with lights and sirens activated, Engine 91 attempted to make a u-turn into the Southbound lanes, when a gold Honda passenger car failed to yield and attempted to pass the fire truck, resulting in the Honda sedan striking the front bumper of Engine 91. The full article can be read here.
First Responders also stress the importance of Maryland’s “Move Over” laws , which require drivers approaching from the rear of an emergency vehicle using visual signals while stopped on a highway to, if possible, make a lane change into an available lane not immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle. This movement should only be done if another lane in the same direction is available and the move can be made safely and without impeding other traffic. If moving to another lane away from the stopped emergency vehicle is not possible, the law requires drivers to slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.
