Ellenville, NY – The chief of the Ellenville Fire Department was hospitalized and issued a traffic ticket after striking another vehicle en route to an emergency call, injuring two people who also had to be hospitalized.
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Ellenville Chief of Police Phil Mattracion said that Fire Chief Steven Krom was traveling northbound on U.S. Route 209 while responding to a call.
Krom, who had his emergency lights on, struck a sedan with his sport utility vehicle while crossing the intersection of U.S. Route 209 and Center Street.
Mattracion said that Krom, as well both passengers in the car, were taken to Ellenville Hospital. Krom was conscious and alert at the scene, but complained of stomach pain.
Mattracion called it an unfortunate incident, but said even emergency officials need to be aware of a driver's right of way. The car Krom struck was passing through a green light.
"Nobody likes to see something like this happen," Mattracion said, "but we're held to the same standard as everyone else." [Daily Freeman]
Anon. 7:45PM In my (not so humble) Opinion, Firefighters and Police Officers, (especially volunteers), who put their lives on the line on a daily basis, to “Serve And Protect” the public, deserve the respect and admiration of that same public, and should ALWAYS be given the right-of-way, because the the house that burns, or gets invaded “Could be Yours”!
As a firefighter who drives firetrucks the first thing you are taught as an emergency vehicle operator is that even though you have lights and sirens you are still liable for anything that happens. About 2 years ago a firetruck was going to a call and went through a green light above the speed limit and hit another car that was turning right into the path of the firetruck. The fireman was found to be negligent and was sentenced to 500 hours of community service and one year probation.
look around over the past,1)who made more accidents the fire or police dept? 2)who saves more life’s the fire or police dept? should the house from the police chief be on fire and the fire truck would drive to the fire as the police chief said, he would get a ticket for putting his (the police chief) life in danger
Anon 12:35
Yes, we do live in a Medinah Shel Chesed . However the double standard is sometimes incredible.
Had this happened to, say, a Hatzoloh volunteer responding on a legitimate emergency I am positive there would be calls to arrest him, deport him or even hang him for his blatant “disregard of the law” (followed by the all too common mantra of “The Hassidim always get away with everything.” etc.)
True we have a tremendous amount of freedom on a more national level, but when it come to the overzealousness of the local yokels I sometimes forget that I live in the blessed America.
This is my opinion and I stick to it.
Well Ellenvile is also where the cops routinely pull over members and even the occasional Hatzolah ambulance.
…[Police Chief] Mattracion (after issuing the ticket to the Fire Chief) said. …It’s unfortunate, but even Emergency vehicles need to be aware of a driver’s right-of-way!… (in spite of the fact that the Fire Chief, MR. Krom was responding to an Emergency call, and had his lights & siren on). So, according to the Police Chief, we should rather let the house burn down and yield the right of way to any civilian vehicles!
No Judge or Jury with an ounce of Common Sense would agreee with this decision!
10:52: Why do you have to post such dribbel on a public forum? If what you said was not true before, it may well be now. Yes, Eisav soineh….. but thats just it. Hashem himself dictated that it should be that way while we are in galus. Why do you add fuel to a fire? We have NEVER EVER lived in such comfort or freedom as we have here in America since this galus began…..
Thank God it didnt happen in the summer otherwise the yiddish driver would definetly be at fault.