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From the Metro staff at The Boston Globe

Fire truck in fatal crash had brake problems in October

January 10, 2009 04:26 PM Email| Comments (15)| Text size – +

(John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

"You are our hero," said a note posted today with a teddy bear placed at the boarded-up site of the crash where Lieutenant Kevin Kelley died..

By Donovan Slack, Globe Staff

The Boston fire truck that slammed into a building Friday, killing a 30-year veteran firefighter, had brake problems in October and was in the department's repair shop as recently as last week, when smoke was reported coming from the dashboard, according to maintenance records.

The city spent some $22,000 to repair the problems with Ladder 26 found during an inspection on Oct. 14, including a faulty brake hose.

Investigators are focusing on brake failure as a possible cause of the crash, two public officials who spoke on condition of anonymity have said. Lieutenant Kevin Kelley, 52 of Quincy, was riding in the front passenger seat and died instantly.

The major truck repairs last fall were done by Greenwood Emergency Vehicles in North Attleboro, according to the maintenance records obtained by The Boston Globe. Other smaller-scale repairs since then have been done by fire department mechanics, including on Jan. 3, when a dashboard switch was found burnt out and smoking. Department mechanics replaced the switch, the records show.

Shoddy fire equipment maintenance has been a constant complaint by firefighter union officials for several years and became a bone of contention during contract negotiations with the city in 2007. Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser, who took over the department in late 2006, conducted a department-wide survey of fire trucks and other equipment and called the condition of the trucks "deplorable" at the time.

He has since purchased five new ladder trucks and ordered another two, records show.

Ladder 26, returning from a routine call, hurtled down a steep hill on Parker Hill Avenue and across four lanes of traffic on Huntington Avenue, rammed through a gate, and smashed into the Mission Park high-rise, spraying children in an after-school program with broken glass, the Globe reported today.

Kelley, a married father of three daughters from Quincy, died instantly. Three other firefighters who were in the truck were taken to the hospital. Two were released Friday night; one, who had sustained a fractured leg, was released today, said Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald. Three children were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The department will convene a board of inquiry to look into the cause of the accident, MacDonald said. Police and prosecutors are also investigating.

Outside the Huntington Avenue station where Ladder 26 was based, a small memorial was set up this morning, consisting of a small white wooden cross, mounted between two black rubber firefighter's boots. Written on the cross: "Kevin M. Kelley Ladder 26 Lt. Boston." A fire department T-shirt was surrounded by bouquets of flowers and a red fireman's axe.

On one bouquet a card read, "For over 10 years, we've always walked by the station twice a day -- and never once have you guys missed saying a cheery hello -- our condolences for Kevin. Lisa and Barb, Harvard Dental Center."

Kelley’s wake was slated for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Keohane Funeral Home in Quincy. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Ann Church in Quincy.

Meanwhile, the executive director of the housing complex said this morning that residents are grateful that the crash wasn’t worse.

“There’s no question about it, the whole thing is a miracle,” said Girma Belay, executive director of Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, which owns the Mission Park apartment complex. “However tragic that we lost this firefighter, what could have been -- it could have been horrible.”

Students were just beginning to arrive at a computer lab in the building for an after-school program. Residents and staffed rushed to help the children, who were between 7 and 12 years old, and first responders included doctors from nearby Brigham and Women’s Hospital who went directly to the scene.

“The kids were just coming from school, so it was not as packed as it usually was,” Belay said.

Residents of the building were able to return to their homes at 11 p.m. Friday. As they waited in the building’s community center, officials from the Red Cross provided food and drinks and city officials, including Mayor Thomas M. Menino and City Councilor Michael Ross, stopped by to offer support.

Come Monday, staff at Mission Park will start assessing how to rebuild the destroyed computer center and address how they will continue to provide community services to residents. They have to wait for insurance assessors to evaluate the scene before taking action, Belay said.

“We have to get together and sort this out, and we’ll start to make plans Monday,” Belay said.

Megan Woolhouse of the Globe staff and correspondent Matt Collette contributed to this report.

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15 comments so far...

I'd be alot more impressed if the Mayor and City Council would spend money and maintain the apparatus and equipment instead of showing up when there is a tragedy. That Ladder Truck was over 13 yrs old and is one of the busiest in the NATION. You don't see police officers riding in 13 yr old cars, and I'd like to know how often Menino gets a new car? Why is it always firefighters who have to die for the sake of $$$ ? Imaging if the truck was responding to a fire with people trapped? Municipalities are playing games with safety of both firefighters and civilians. I hope this serves as a wake-up call so firefighters will begin to refuse to staff-respond on unsafe trucks.

Posted by Steve January 10, 09 12:51 PM

Why do you report the vague innuendo 'Questions have been raised about whether the truck's brakes failed'? Brake failure is a rare occurrence, especially on vehicles with safeguards and redundant systems, and is only one question that may be explored. The initial report said a city councillor raised the possibility of failure (i.e., a person with no knowledge of the accident and usually concerned about the possibility of passing the blame or suing a third party). On a freezing day after lots of precipitation, why haven't questions been raised about whether the driver may have failed to anticipate the presence of ice at the bottom of the hill? Whether the driver may have suffered a heart attack or stroke? Whether a fire engine with its many axles may have a weight distribution on the hill which made braking inefficient? And whether the massive truck was going too fast to stop? The accident was a tragedy, but to report city hall spin when there is a substantial human interest to report is a slatternly dis-service to your readers.

Posted by m. falkoff January 10, 09 01:14 PM

Listen Menino...now GET THE CONTRACT FOR THESE FF'S DONE!!! STOP SKIMPING ON EVERY LITTLE THINGS! THESE PEOPLE WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE ONE DAY SHOULD YOU NEED IT! AND TO THINK...THE CITY IS NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH FOR TRUCK MAINTENANCE? HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOW THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF BRAKES WERE THE CAUSE?

Posted by 26 Time World Champions January 10, 09 01:34 PM

Job creation that's ok, but if you messing around other people's car for money
and end up accident like this. This murder to me.

Posted by Stephanie January 10, 09 02:18 PM

I am a volunteer with a fire department in New Hampshire and our ladder truck is about as old as Ladder Truck 26. Our department has had the occasional smoking fire engine and our fair share of broken down trucks. At some point it becomes imperative that firefighters get new trucks, regardless of how expensive they are. It becomes a life safety issue and sadly this point was just driven home. A truck over 10 years old is just not safe. This tragedy could have been avoided.

Lt. Kelley sir rest in peace my brother.

Posted by Nancy January 10, 09 02:58 PM

If the truck had break failure after being so recently in the shop then any one involved in its maintenence should be fired, no execptions.

Posted by Marty January 10, 09 03:31 PM

It’s criminal the way we ignore the safety needs of our fire fighters. We ignore them, refuse to grant the funds for even the most basic needs, never mind pay them a decent wage. I ask you to consider what type of equipment would you want them to have if they were rushing to your burning home where your child was trapped. What would you be willing to pay at that moment to assure they had what they needed to actually get there and do all possible to save the person you loved. These “accidents” are all too frequent in the Boston, and Newton for that matter. It’s time we got our priorities straight and demand these brave men and woman have a salary they can live on as well as properly working equipment and vehicles. There is no excuse for a fire fighter to have to hold an additional job to support his / her family, and wish for an axe that didn’t have a huge crack in it. Remember, this is the same axe they will use to break down the door to get in and search for your trapped child…. don’t you want it to be sturdy?

Posted by Michelle January 10, 09 03:58 PM

All you stingy Bostonians were too tightwad to get money to fix these vehicles or get new ones, now when something goes wrong and you're to blame you start grabbing at straws like drugs and alcohol. Next time listen to the Union, its why they're there. One person may have died, but the driver saved numerous lives through his actions. He must have realized(due to the skid marks at the top of the hill) that the brakes were malfunctioning. He turned on his siren to warn people and coasted down the hill. If he had swerved the truck would have flipped and killed every fireman in it. The driver was not driving reckless at all, parker hill road is no joke, he did the best he could thinking on his feet in a terrible situation. If the people of Boston want this to not happen again, they should let their representatives know they want their public servants to have better tools for their job. To those pointing their fingers at the driver: you didn't see the crash and you don't know parker hill avenue. That driver saved all thsoe firefighters lives and mine.

Posted by kevin b January 10, 09 04:08 PM

Anyone know the year and manufacturer of Ladder 26? Also, thoughts and prayers to Lt. Kelley's family, Ladder 26, and all of Boston's jakes.

Posted by CL January 10, 09 05:30 PM

Our family prays for the family of Kevin Kelley. May his wife and daughters feel the love and support of as many people as Fireman Kelley touched in his life.
Thinking of you all,

Posted by Shirley Faulkner January 10, 09 07:05 PM

"The city spent some $22,000 to repair the problems with Ladder 26 . . ."

"Shoddy fire equipment maintenance has been a constant complaint . . . "

There is a disconnect between these two statements. Please investigate.

Posted by Harrybosch January 10, 09 09:59 PM

My Heart Goes out to the Familly who's oed oe die and o al the fire fghters who worked with him such a sad thing!

Posted by Shane FF107 January 10, 09 10:30 PM

Why are four highly paid firefighters making "a routine medical call" in a ladder truck?
Forget investigating the brakes - ask why this large piece of equipment and four men are sent out on such a call when a more minimal response is in order. Are Union work rules involved?

Posted by Ron Thomas January 10, 09 11:32 PM

Our hearts go out to the family and to his fellow FF's.our prayers are with you all.

Posted by Don Bosco Chapel (East Boston) January 12, 09 01:05 PM

RON let me tell you something i am glad that the FF's Make Medical calls
they get there before the EMT's half the time. they are not paid half of what they should be for they have made a big difference in the life and death of many people in my life(mom,dad. & son) so why not just give them the respect they have Earned. A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL BOSTON FF'S.

Posted by C. G January 13, 09 12:05 PM