A volunteer firefighter in East Hampton, Connecticut, is recovering after being struck by a speeding vehicle while working a two-car crash scene Sunday evening. According to the East Hampton Volunteer Fire Department, police first spotted the fast-moving car as it tried to pass the accident and attempted a traffic stop. That attempt failed. Roughly five minutes later, the same vehicle returned from the opposite direction, drove around a fire truck, hit several traffic cones, and struck the firefighter. The driver then fled westbound on Route 66 toward Portland.
The firefighter’s injuries were described as minor, and they were evaluated at a local hospital. East Hampton police are actively searching for the vehicle and driver, and they’re asking anyone with information to contact the department.
If you live on the Suncoast, this one probably hits close to home. Our crash scenes unfold on some of the busiest roads in the region, and many of the people directing traffic and setting cones are volunteers from your own neighborhood. Connecticut’s Route 66 is a long way from Gulf Gate, but the rule is the same everywhere: slow down, move over, and give emergency workers room to do their jobs. So what do you think, should the penalties for hitting a first responder be increased? Let us know in the comments or give us a call.
