The Upton (KY) Fire and Rescue department had a fire apparatus damaged while on-scene responding to a highway incident. It’s the second such incident in the past three months for the department, and has spurred calls for legislative action to support highway emergency response operations.
On August 15, the department responded to a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 65. While on scene, one of its apparatus positioned to warn the public and protect responders was struck and damaged by another motorist. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians, but the truck’s front bumper sustained an estimated $5,000 in damage, according to local reports.
“I am not even done with the first insurance claim,” Upton Fire Department Chief Tyler Hiser, told local outlet WDRB. He was referring to a similar incident in May when another Upton apparatus in a blocking position was struck at an accident scene on I-65, this time rear-ended by a semi tractor-trailer. That vehicle was totaled at an estimated cost of $150,000, and final costs to replace the rig have not yet been calculated, according to the outlet…