Firefighter charged after car rear-ends fire engine

In looking at The Code of Virginia under Section 46.2-888 (not sure if this is section in which the driver was charged) states that no person shall stop a vehicle in such manner as to impede or render dangerous the use of the highway by others, except in the case of an emergency, accident or mechanical breakdown. I believe the driver stopped the apparatus because of noise from the rear of the truck (a possible mechanical breakdown). I quess this is all open for interpretation.

Section 46.2-921.1 states Dirvers to yield the right-of-way or reduce speed when approaching stationary emergency vehicles on highways. Unfortunately that didn’t occur. So then why wasn’t the driver of the taurus charged as well?

Just something to think about

First and foremost let’s be thankful that neither the driver of the taurus or the fire fighters on Engine 16 were injured.

Secondly having been on the scene immediately after the accident it seems that several key factors have either been fabricated or imbelished upon. So maybe somethings should brought to light.

Yes Engine 16 (13 feet tall and 8 feet wide)was stopped on Lover’s Lane at which time its hazards lights were activated and the area in which it was stopped was next to a lighted business lot.  Additionally Engine 16 is equiped with a 7 inch reflective scotchlite stripe as required by The National Fire Protection Association and The Department of Transportation as well as mulitple reflective unit identifiers. Plainly put there is no way the vehicle was not visible. 

Engine 16 was even in a straight away of Lover’s Lane with at least 500 feet of CLEAR visibility.

I would like to ask the driver of the taurus a few simple questions:
1. How close were you following the Engine to strike it from the rear?
2. Were you on your cell phone?
3. Are you willing to have your phone records reviewed?
4. Do you wear corrective lenses and if so when was your last exam and were you wearing them at the time of the accident?
5. Did you simply become distracted?
6. When was your last accident or does the taurus come with custom paint ie the black front end? Or was it purchsed that way?
7. What if this had been an actual emergency and personel were working in the road? (someone would of possibly died)

In an ideal world the Engine would not of had to stop in the road but if the driver of the taurus had been more attentive there wouldn’t of been and accident. How many times have we driven up on a disabled vehicle in the road only to slow down and drive around it not plow into the back of it?

I back my questions with 27 years experience of driving fire apparatus both in rural and suburban areas.

What does the driver of the taurus have possibly 2 years behind the wheel with what type of record?

In closing be safe and be aware of your surroundings as you drive.

i was at the accident scene.it was not raining at the time of the accident and the road was dry.the firetruck did not pull into the yamaha parking lot because they pulled out of the parking lot of an office building up the street and headed towards rt.15 away from the yamaha shop.the firetruck had on it’s hazard lights and has reflective markings and shiny aluminum on the back.when you hear strange noises on a $500,000+ piece of fire apparatus,you can’t just keep going.

i thought that in the state of VA, the last vehicle in the “pile up” is automatically charged…unless there is overwhelming evidence the vehicle did not “cause” the incident…..

What many people dont realize is that the driver stopped to investigate a mechanical problem that could have caused much further damage if it was ignored.  If you want to make the argument that both drivers should have been charged I could see your point, but dont try to place all of the blame on the driver of the fire apparatus