RANDLEMAN, N.C. (ACME NEWS) — A Level Cross Fire Department engine overturned after colliding with a vehicle responding to a house fire Saturday evening, leaving one firefighter with minor injuries and significantly impacting the department’s emergency response capability.
The crash occurred around 6 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 220 Business North and New Salem Road. James Jackson Luther, 18, of Randleman was stopped at a stop sign on New Salem Road when he attempted a left turn onto U.S. 220 South but failed to yield to an oncoming Level Cross Fire Department engine responding to an emergency call, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
Luther swerved to avoid the fire truck, traveled off the roadway, and the engine’s driver, Jason Long, braked hard to avoid striking Luther’s vehicle. Long lost control of the engine, which traveled off the roadway to the right, struck a utility pole and overturned on its left side before hitting an additional pole.
Long sustained minor injuries and was transported to Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro for evaluation. Luther was uninjured and charged with a yield violation.
U.S. Highway 220 Business at New Salem Road was closed following the crash, with the North Carolina Department of Transportation establishing a detour. All lanes reopened at 9:25 p.m.
Level Cross Fire Department Chief David Ridgeway issued a statement Monday describing the significant impact on the agency.
“Anytime a vehicle accident occurs it causes damage physically, financially, and emotionally,” Ridgeway said. “With the accident of 434 it has taken a huge impact on our agency.”
The department lost the use of one engine, reducing its water capacity from three 1,000-gallon trucks to two. Additional equipment sustained damage requiring testing and repair. A new apparatus in 2023 costs considerably more than the 1997 engine that was damaged, according to Ridgeway.
Long was an experienced driver with extensive hours behind the wheel, Ridgeway said.
“Please yield to emergency services, turn down the music a little, be less distracted,” the chief said. “Not all agencies who have suffered an apparatus incident were fortunate, some have lost their lives. Please pay attention, responding to calls is the most dangerous part of our jobs.”
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