Driver charged in crash involving Chesterfield fire truck

TL;DR: A dump truck driver has been charged with reckless driving after his detached trailer struck a Chesterfield County fire engine on Courthouse Road on Monday morning.

The story

A dump truck driver has been charged after his vehicle's trailer broke free and struck a Chesterfield County fire engine on Courthouse Road on Monday morning, October 5, around 10:20 a.m.

The fire crew was departing Fire Station 20 with a green traffic light to respond to a structure fire when the southbound dump truck's rear wheels locked up. The sudden braking caused the truck and trailer to jackknife. The trailer became dislodged from the dump truck, crossed the median, and struck the fire engine while it was stopped lawfully in the intersection.

No injuries were reported in the crash.

The driver was charged with reckless driving, failure to maintain proper control of his vehicle, and two counts of expired state inspection. Police also discovered that the dump truck's emergency brake was not connected, a critical safety system failure. Both the dump truck and trailer had expired Virginia State Inspection stickers at the time of the incident.

Key players

• Chesterfield County Fire and EMS Department: Fire crew operating engine struck by trailer

Why it matters: The crash highlights the hazards emergency responders face while responding to calls and underscores the importance of vehicle safety inspections and maintenance for commercial vehicles operating on public roads.

Places

• Courthouse Road
• Fire Station 20

Sources

• Driver charged in crash that hit Chesterfield fire truck
• Fire Apparatus Magazine - Man Charged with DUI After Hitting Chesterfield Fire Truck