3 Firefighters Hurt When Truck Plunges
Three California Department of Forestry firefighters were injured Sunday when their firetruck plunged 60 feet down an embankment in San Bernardino County, according to officials.
Two of the men had critical injuries, and a third firefighter’s injuries were described as moderate, said Officer Karen Faciane, a spokeswoman for the California Highway Patrol.
The accident occurred about 5:45 p.m. on Interstate 15, south of the California 138 junction, Faciane said.
Some of the southbound lanes were closed, tying up traffic for thousands of people, many of them returning from Las Vegas, Faciane said.
Sunday night traffic was backed up about five miles, she said.
The truck tumbled down the right shoulder of the freeway, breaking in half, said Steven Roi, who saw the accident. One firefighter was tossed on the ground and the other two were pinned in the truck, he said. The firefighters extricated from the truck were airlifted to hospitals.
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