Fire truck crash kills firefighter, injures 6
(George Rizer/Globe Staff)
By Donovan Slack, Maria Cramer, and Milton Valencia, Globe Staff
One firefighter was killed and another was seriously injured when a Boston Fire Department ladder truck hurtled down a hill and crashed into a building Friday on Huntington Avenue in the city's Mission Hill neighborhood, city and fire officials said. Three children were taken to the hospital with minor injuries when the truck hit the room where they were participating in an after-school program.
Fire Lieutenant Kevin M. Kelley, 52, of Quincy, a 30-year veteran of the force, was killed in the crash, said Steve MacDonald, a fire department spokesman.
The truck was carrying Kelley and three other firefighters back from a routine medical call when it went down Parker Hill Road, rumbled through the intersection with Huntington Avenue, smashed into two parked cars, and struck the building, said MacDonald. Kelley was riding in the front passenger seat when the truck rammed the building at 835 Huntington Ave. at around 2:32 p.m.
One seriously injured firefighter was taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital, said Jennifer Mehigan, a spokeswoman for Boston EMS. Two other firefighters who were riding in the truck were treated for minor injuries and were in good condition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said hospital spokeswoman Jaime Lyons. Five other people who witnessed the crash were taken to the hospital with emotional distress, said Mehigan.
Kelley, who had three adult daughters, was given a citation in 1997 for his work in an Oct. 26, 1996 fire in Roxbury, MacDonald said. Edward A. Kelly, president of Local 718 of the International Association of Firefighters, said Kelley was "a true veteran who served the city with distinction."
"Many questions remain as to why this horrific accident happened," he said. "Tonight we ask the people of Boston to stand with us as you always have. Pray for the Kelley family. Pray for three firefighters who are in the hospital right now, for the other people who were hurt today."
Officials refused to speculate on the cause of the accident. "We won't be commenting on the accident or vehicle. ... The cause of the accident will be investigated by the Boston Police Department," MacDonald said.
The 120-unit building the truck smashed into was being evacuated this evening because the electricity, heat, and water are off, said Boston EMS Chief Richard Serino. Serino said it wasn't clear how long the residents would have to vacate their homes.
When the truck struck the building, it crashed into a computer lab where seven children, ages 7 to 12, were working on an after-school project, according to resident David Ramos, 46.
Ramos said he left his family’s ninth-floor apartment when he felt what he described as a tremor, like an earthquake, and heard the alarms. By the time he reached the first floor, he ran into the after-school coordinator who he knew only by her first name, Millie.
“She was all shook up, crying and everything,” he said.
The truck had struck a wall near the computer lab.
"Some of the kids were full of glass," said Ramos. "They were sitting next to the window where the impact was."
Ramos grabbed paper towels and helped clean up some of the children, who were bleeding with cuts from the flying debris.
“It was chaotic for these kids. They were nervous, crying, screaming,” he said.
Three children were taken to Children's Hospital with minor injuries and were expected to be released, according to Andrea Duggan, a hospital spokeswoman.
The truck, Ladder 26, could be seen after the accident resting halfway out of the building at the Mission Park complex. Ladder 26 operates with Engine 37 out of a firehouse nearby at 560 Huntington Ave.
Residents were alarmed by a sudden crashing noise. “All we heard is ‘Bam! Bam!’ and that was it -- it wasn’t even that loud, it was so quick,” said Donna, a certified nursing assistant who cares for an elderly resident in a nearby building and declined to give her last name. “It was terrible because the truck went through the wall and I think it hit the building.”
Karolyn Damian, 11, had just gotten off the bus and was headed to the building when she saw the truck race past her.
“I saw the firetruck just going down the hill going too fast, and it flew into the computer center,” she said. “It was just a loud boom.”
Just before 4:30 p.m., firefighters lined up with their helmets over their hearts to pay honor to a fallen comrade as Kelley's body was removed from the wreckage of the crash and placed in an ambulance.
Ladder 26 was manufactured by a company called E-One. The model year is 1995 and it's a 110-foot truck with a four-door cab. The truck, which was bought new, passed its last annual safety inspection in March 2008 and a ladder inspection in September 2008, city officials said.
The truck was involved in another accident only a month ago, when it rear-ended a car in the same area on Huntington Avenue on Dec. 10, the city official said. An investigation determined the driver of the car was at fault because the car had cut off the truck, the official said. There were no problems with the truck's brakes at the time, the official said.
The truck is one of 23 ladder trucks in the city's fleet and one of eight that are at least 13 years old. A spokeswoman for Florida-based E-One, Amanda Davis, declined to comment on the crash but said, "Our thoughts are with the department and the families."
The Mission Park complex includes three mid-rise buildings and one high-rise apartment tower as well as 147 town houses along a system of interior streets.
Engine 37 and Ladder 26 were featured on episodes of Discovery Channel's Firehouse USA.
The last fatal crash involving a Massachusetts firefighter occurred in 1988 in Barnstable, according to Rita Fahy, a database manager at the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy. The firefighter killed in that crash was responding to a call for emergency medical services in a personal vehicle, Fahy said.
Between 1993 and 2007, there have been just three fatal crashes involving ladder trucks nationwide.
Andrew Ward, a Northeastern senior, said he lives across the street from the building and heard an “incredible noise.” When he looked out the building, he told the Globe, he saw a “chaotic scene.”
From her apartment on the 13th floor, Julia Gorin, 69, said she heard a noise "like a blast" and felt the entire high-rise vibrate.
In the building next door on Huntington Avenue, Sophia Nikolayerskaya thought it was "an explosion."
"Terrible," Nikolayerskaya said, shaking her head.
Eric Moskowitz, Andrew Ryan, Megan Woolhouse, and Martin Finucane of the Globe staff, along with Globe correspondent Stewart Bishop, contributed to this report.
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Massachusetts, "The Emergency State."
What's all the hullabaloo this time?
I was riding my bike down Huntington ave and witnessed this. The truck barreled down Parker Hill, crossed Huntington, and crashed through the parked cars, the brick wall, and into the building. It was one of the most frightening things I have ever seen.
Wow thats right up the street from me, I wonder what happened. Very sad
The truck came down parker hill with its sirens on. It accelerated for a second and then didn't slow down. It didn't swerve at all either. It plowed through the intersection(luckily not hitting any cars with people in them), through the 2 parked cars, through the brick wall/steel fence, and through the wall of the library. The brakes must have stopped working, but there was no reason they should be going down parker hill that fast in the first place, that hill is a death trap.
I witnessed this accident. I am very sorry to hear this firefighter didn't make it.
I live across the street. Police are interviewing everyone who witnessed anything...really a terrible scene. My heart goes out to the families of those killed.
pray to god for the familys
This is so sad. My deep and sincere sympathy to all concerned.
Ya what about the daycare center in that building and the children that were heard screaming before the officials showed up? Why was this not mentioned? I have heard multiple eye witness accounts and these stories that are published are only a small portion of what actually happened. Post truth.
PLEASE tell me how our lawmakers can accept a 5.5% raise and our Boston Firefighter's can't even get breaks for their trucks?! Not to mention working without a contract for the past 2 years! Menino is risking the lives of our Firefighters and the citizens they protect. Get it together Menino and give these men/women a contract and proper functioning equipment to do their job safely!! There is NO reason the Lt. had to loose his life. Prayers go out to the families involved. This is an outrage.
I wonder if the driver of the truck had an American flag painted on his helmet...
Come on, just Globe report the facts. You are like my passive aggressive mother dropping hints trying to stir the soup - Drug tests, maintenance issues. Lets meditate on the fact that two guys went to work today and one, possibly two, will not be taking his boots off at home tonight.
What a terrible first week of the year for Boston :-/
God Bless the families of the victims. Rest In Peace.
My condolences to the family of the deceased firefighter. God rest his soul! My dad is also a Boston firefighter so we are all family and grieve with you! God bless his family!!
Speculation???? Either the brakes failed or the driver went catatonic for that to happen. If the driver had gone catatonic the truck would have swerved. The truck went straight: the brakes went out. The driver must have chosen a course that wouldn't kill any visible pedestrians, because there were people on either side of the hole in the wall.
It doesn’t appear that they were on their way to an official emergency (lights sirens etc). I hope this isn’t another case of “partying” on the job. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
That's a sad story. Somebody lost a Dad, brother, husband. RIP
It's amazing that the firetruck was able to come down that hill and across Huntington Ave at 2:30 in the afternoon without hitting cars or MBTA trolleys. It's a busy stretch of road, and it's a miracle that no one else was run over.
These ladder trucks have a history of problems. I'm confident there is paperwork supporting this - headquarters doesn't want to hear it....maybe now they will. Rest in Peace.
My condolences to the family of this firefighter and my prayers are with the injured for a speedy recovery.
PLEASE tell me how our lawmakers can accept a 5.5% raise and our FF's can't even get breaks for their trucks?!? This isn't the first incident involving vehicle maintenance. Ladder's 23's spare almost crashed in the same spot a few weeks ago! Menino is risking the lives our our Firefighters and the citizens they protect. Give these men/women a contract and the proper functioning equipment they need to do their job safely! This is such a shame, tragedy and an outrage!
Prayers go out to the FF's and their families.
This is a tragic accident that should not happen no mater what the cause.
Fire-Ffighters feel they must drive faster to make up for the public that have blocked them or slowed them on the way to emergency calls and with larger trucks it takes a lot out of the brakes as they are used to such a high extent to then slowing down.
They are pushed mentally to get there faster to save lives and protect property and things like this happen.
My hert goes out to the Boston Fire Department for their loss
tragic. My heart goes out to the family.
As a (no longer) heavy fire apparatus driver, I was under the guidance that the brakes failed-safe. That if pressure went out, the drums engaged. Yet if pressure was low, you will get the warning buzzer and lights. This pertains to Pierce Arrows, and not E-Ones, which I have never driven.
The center(s) of gravity on a moving laden apparatus can be a nightmare, I made it through the years without a crash, but not everyone can say that as even in my house we had a fatal wreck long ago.
It's first in our minds, getting to the scene in one piece...I hope the investigation is quick and thorough and we learn how to prevent this. No matter what the cause.
well hopefully the firefighters weren't high, drunk, or suffering from roid rage when this happened. if not, i'm sure the globe will furnish us with another spotlight investigation.
Hopefully this is a Boston Fire Department accident that didn't involve drugs and booze. I feel horrible for the injured and lost.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time...
My prayers are with the family and the Boston Fire Department at this terrible time.
But the reporter that wrote this story needs a reality check.
The truck was 110 feet long?
Could it be the ladder on top of the truck can extend to 110 feet?
There were way more than 3 fatal crashes nationwide with ladder trucks from 1993 to 2007. What is your source?
Unfortunately, fatal firetruck crashes are a weekly occurrence throughout the country
Time to give these men and women the equipment they need to save the lives they are called to duty for.
God bless all who were impacted by this horrible tragedy.
This breaks my heart. God bless this poor man and his family both at home and in the fire service.
a ladder truck to a car wreck?
this is terrible, I really feel for everyone who was hurt and whose lives it touched... but these guys drive like maniacs.... it is not suprising that this happened.
my condolences to the firefighters' family.
May God bless his soul,comfort his family,and may he rest in peace.
Why is it only WBZ TV has this hero's name? God Rest His Soul.
My Grandfather was a Boston firefighter.I have tremendous respect and admiration for this group of brave and dedicated men.May this fallen fighter rest in peace.
Call the professionals in to investigate the accident-The Massachusetts State Police Accident Reconstruction Team, The DOT, and the NTSB
Once again the Bostpn FF Union blames someone before the accident is even investigated-pretty sad.
R.I.P. Brother Kelley
Hey Brian:
"When the truck struck the building, it crashed into a computer lab where seven children, ages 7 to 12, were working on an after-school project, according to resident David Ramos, 46."
""Some of the kids were full of glass," said Ramos. "They were sitting next to the window where the impact was." Ramos grabbed paper towels and helped clean up some of the children, who were bleeding with cuts from the flying debris. “It was chaotic for these kids. They were nervous, crying, screaming,” he said. Three children were taken to Children's Hospital with minor injuries and are expected to be released today, according to Andrea Duggan, a hospital spokeswoman."
Did you, I don’t know, skip over these 2-3 paragraphs from this article? Is reading THAT HARD for you? Or are you just a weirdo forum troll who wants to stir up completely bogus allegations against the Globe.
Also, to the ZOMG WHERE R TEH BRAKZE!!!11one person, did you not read the part where the truck had just recently passed inspection? Save misconduct on the inspector’s part (possible) it looks like sabotage or a terrible accident.
Was the driver drunk? Or on cocaine?
I hope they do a tox screen on him.
My Condolences and Sympathy go out to the families of the Firefighters that were involved in this accident today.
May the love of those around you,
help you through the days ahead.
With Sincerest Sympathy
John Piercy
Local 288
Hamilton Ontario Canada
They'll do a tox screen on the driver, right?
What a tragedy. I'm thinking the reason why the firetruck had it's sirens on is because the firefighter driving it realized the breaks were gone and was alerting everyone to get out of the way. In a way, the driver is a hero if this is the case that he was using the sirens to protect the citizens.
My heart goes out to the family of the fallen firefighter and to the family of the children who witnessed this.
My thought"s and prays gose out to kelly family and department this is a said day i am a firefighter New Jersey and my prays are with my fellow firefighter"s
my condolences to the family.
"PLEASE tell me how our lawmakers can accept a 5.5% raise and our FF's can't even get breaks for their trucks?!? "
Posting something twice doesn't make it any more true. Time will tell what caused the accident.
Condolences to the families involved.
my condolences. And, jordan alegant, there was only one FAMILY that lost someone.. not families..
the ladder on the truck is 110 feet, not the truck itself
What an awful tragedy! Prayers for all involved.
Hey MPO, comment # 15, you are a piece of garbage. Good bless everyone who was involved or witnessed this horrific tragedy.
Speculating on a cause of this accident is foolish. It could also be " accident possibly caused by drunk firefighter ". It seems obvious that the union floated this story and the newspaper stupidly repeated it. Deal in facts not speculation. My respect for the newpaper business is as low as it can go. I'm sure that Tom Fineran will be repeating this suposition on the radio so we really do not need other apologists.
Here we go, This poor fireman is dead, and the union members are on here claiming the Mayor is responsible. This man is dead, His family need prayers and support. Don't you dare turn this into a Money issue. Wait till the investigation is complete then address the problem. Right now care for the family's of the firemen killed and injured
I'm a CDL driver and there can be many reasons. If going to fast down a hill, great breaks wont stop you in time as speed and momentum is too much to overcome. Also, if loss of air pressure, safety springs wont engage until pressure drops below 30psi. This take far too long and driver would have known he had pressure issues before he even reached the hill and would have stopped. Best guess is a pedal valve failure, brake valve doesn't engage air system and you basically have no brakes at all. You can disengage the air system entirely forcing the spring breaks to engage, but this can be unpredictable possibly causing rollover. Best course of action is safest path of least resistance. Not sure what fire fighters are trained for, are they required to get a real CDL? If not they should.
The only budgets going up in Massachusetts are the Politicians salaries and welfare. Its sad that welfare can be up over 10% this year, and public safety is facing unprecedented cuts in budgets. The City of Boston should be ashamed of themselves if this turns out to be a faulty piece of equipment. Look at all the other big cities and see apparatus replacement programs every 5 to 6 years, but Boston strives for 20 years. Then Menino will get the countless lawsuits he deserves. RIP Lt. Kelly. You were a good family man and a greak Jake.
Last time a Boston firefighter(s) died they were on illegal substances, could this be another one? Put public safety in danger for no reason!
I think a truck that size has air brakes if the air pressure drops below 60 PSI the brakes will lock up so if it had air brakes it would skid down the hill with the brakes locked God bless all who were injured and killed
God Bless Lt. Kelley and his family. As usual the press has to engage in hack journalism and reference collective bargaing issues in a vacum. Not once has the press EVER referenced the City of Boston turning down proposals for testing by the Union. Its a shame that such a tragedy has to be blemished by freedom of speech. Please choose your right to print more sympathetically.My prayers go out to the Kelley family and the members of L-718.
A portion of this story -may- be incorrect. BFD often takes trucks out of service for maintenance or repairs and it appears the ladder truck referenced in the Dec 10 previous car incident is possibly a back-up piece with a 26 placard on the front center. Actual 26 has painted/decal 26's on either front-side-corner of the cab. Globe needs to check video or photos from Dec 10 to see if there is a 26 next to the word Ladder on the side of the large ladder on top of the truck, if yes, same truck, if no (its blank) then not same truck, its a backup. BFD records would tell same. I work in the area for one of the hospitals and see these trucks go by me just about everyday.
You need to be sure of facts with these things, wouldn't want to tarnish the death of a great firefighter with a union vs. mayor issue over maintenance.
Thank You Lt. Kelley for your service to the people of Boston. My heart goes out to your family
I heard they lost the brakes coming down Parker Hill Avenue, returning from a medical-aid call. Parker Hill is one of the steepest streets in the city. They never had a chance. A small miracle nobody else was injured or killed.
Rest in Peace brother.
I WAS WALKING, ON MY WAY 2 WORK AT THE BRIGHAMS WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED!
IM SO SORRY FOR THE FF THAT DIED.
YOUR FAMILY WILL BE IN MY PRAYERS.
My prayers go out to all Boston Fire Fighters, as well as to all the families involved. What a tragedy. These people risk their lives everyday.
As poster 21 mentions, most (maybe all?) large trucks have are built with some safeguards in case of brake failure. If the air goes out the brakes go on not off (I can't speak for this specific model). The individual brakes themselves are very simple-it's *impossible* for all 5 axle's worth to fail at once. In fact there's not much that can make an air brake suddenly stop working--which is why big trucks use them. Engine braking can hold the truck back but not stop it on a steep hill, and then I believe there's some type of E-brake. If the maintenance was faked or cheated over a period of time it's conceivable to have multiple failures, but cheating the easiest item on the rig seems unlikely even in Boston. Hm, then again it is Boston.
It does sound more like mechanical than driver - if I driver had a heart attack etc the co-driver would have jumped over, plus the rig went arrow-straight. He did good keeping it from being worse.
Condolences to the families involved.
Very I am hit with the news and I feel much by the firemen and all the people involved in the accident. My sister lives in Mission Park and I am very in shock because she always parks her car by where step the accident. Thanks to God that nobody is in the cars that was parking and involved. My condolences and prayers to the families and people involved in this sad situation
That hill is so steep and it's easy to just fly down that hill and if you've no brakes....God, how awful
May Mr. Kelley's soul rest in peace
it is quite obvious the brakes failed. The driver is a PROFESSIONAL. Returning to the firehouse from an emergency is a situation where something like this would not happen unless there was catastrophic mechanical failure.
Rest in Peace my brother and I will pray for your family, your friends and loved ones.
Frank
L113 FDNY
God bless his poor family.
"MPO" for your information they were returning from a medical call. Did you ever think that maybe they turned the lights and siren on to get people's attention. You are a disfunctional moron. The next time you may need help or any type of assistance call the I Party Store you degenerate louse!!!
OMG, this is another terrible tragedy for the fine men and women of the BFD, I don't think we should spectulate as to the cause at this time, until a thorough investigation is completed. My sincere condolences to these firemen and their families, friends and without saying ,the BRAVE brothers and sisters they work with who have become their second families. Pointing fingers at the Mayor or contract delays is not a point in this accident. We should salute these BRAVE firefighters who do these jobs to PROTECT US, not always look for an excuse to blame them.
Condolences to the family and brotherhood of firefighters for this tragic loss.
As for the mayor and city council... The cost to the city defending lawsuits from every ambulance chaser in the East will cost the city far more than maintaining its equipment (assuming that the brakes went).
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Kelley Family and the B.F.D. Family. It is a shame that the so called wonderful Mayor of this city has no problem giving out pay increases to his special groups, but doesn't think twice before putting the citizens and public servants of this city in danger by not giving them the proper working equipment needed to do their jobs. Then the Mayor appears so somber for the cameras. How does the man live with himself.
Well, I'm a bad person because my first inclination was to wonder if it was alcohol or drugs that caused the accident.
If it really was the brakes, well, I've got some quality time to spend in confession this weekend.
To the Kelley Family, the brothers from L-26, E-37, and all of the Boston Firefighter Family, my prayers are with you all in these tough times. Lt Kelley was a good friend of mine, and I will miss him too. His untimely passing is a sad reality to alot of people, including myself.
To the public, please be supportive for his family, including all of the Jakes at L-26, E-37, and D-5. Kevin was their leader, friend and mentor, who loved his job, and today paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep Boston safe.
Rest in Peace Kevin, we will all miss you.
Alex Nathanson IAFF L-2959
Martin County Fire Rescue
Stuart, Florida
I was moved by the pictures of the firefighters lined up along the path leading to the ambulance, as if to honor one of their fallen comrades. These men and women deal with difficult situations daily, but probably never expected something like this to happen. One never knows what tragedy may occur. My heart goes out to all of them, as well as the families of the accident victims. God bless.
My deepest sympathy goes out the the family and friends of Lt. Kelly.
From a fellow firefighter in Bridgewater, NS, Canada
" Partying " on the job ? whomever said that needs to get a life, firefighters risk their lives day in and day out to protect complete strangers, don't you dare try and put a negative spin on such a tradgedy. Although they weren't on what you consider an "official" emergency, did you ever consider the driver realized his brakes were faulty on a steep incline and in a panic still had the wherewithal to turn the sirens on to warn inocent commuters and pedestrians alike.
Get a life mpo and have some respect
RIP kevin kelly
I'm going to be sick by saying this but D& A testing needs to be done on all parties involved.
I want it ruled out as a cause NOW And I mean NOW legitimately.
If the situation is under suspicion the BFD union leadership continues their obfuscation they should be arrested or vindicated.
Truth is what we need NOW!
Figured you would not print my blog due to the criticism of your journalistic tactics and that is the power of your pen and perogative. Whatever sells papers that is the bottom line. On another note for the people that cannot believe the truck was "barreling" down the hill. Try and go down Parker Hill in a vehicle that size ,with potentially no brakes. and see how slow you will go. Bottom line is another good jake lost his life. Prayers and condolences to Lt. Kelley family.
Keep in mind that the sirens are a warning sign. Did you ever stop to think that maybe if the vehicle could not be stopped, that the firefighters would sound thier sirens as a warning for other vehicles and pesdestrians to alert them????
SEE Boston News Papers - April 22, 1950
Ladder 26 crashes on Parker Hill Ave
59 years ago, same street, same ladder truck.
My Dad was on-board Ladder 26 - on that day Fortunately all survived.
My sympathy to the Kelly Family.
In times like this, no one is to blame, it was just a freak accident. All we can do is pray for the family and ladder 26. The community lost a good man. Ladder 26 you stay strong in your hearts and keep him in your thoughts
Your soldier and hero has past on, but now thus saith the lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name.
I drive a heavy truck in Boston daily and have seen this particular apparatus driving far too fast for the road conditions (traffic, terrain, and weather all) many times.
It is an unfortunate tragedy that the firefighter lost his life, but I am thankful that nobody else was seriously injured.
On air-operated brakes, the brakes lock to the engaged position if there is a
loss of air pressure, this is preceded by buzzers, and often warning lights, along with the air pressure guage showing air loss. There could have been a brake fading issue, which is caused by overusing the brakes, which could be an issue, as I know Parker Hill Road is quite steep. If this were the case
though, this would have to be ruled driver error.
With all the new technology available, there should be some sort of recording devices, for no other reason than to protect the city in these circumstances. These electronics measure braking force, overbraking, speed, RPM, and can even measure lateral g-force. Our trucks have them, ambulance companies have them, and they are found in almost all new cars (in one way or another-
GM's On-Star does it, along with most others), and this provides proof of accountability.
My heart goes out to the families and everyone involved. Hopefully the
investigation will be thorough, and ways to prevent future accidents such as this (whether driver, mechanical, or other errors were to blame).
investigation will be thor
though, that is D
loss of a
I have children of my own. I could just imagine how frightening this could have been for them. We will keep them in our prayers and also the firefighter.
It 's time's like this, that make you realize that life is too short and we should always take the time to say we love our loved ones, every day!
Love you guys!
Such a tragic accident, and my condolences go out to all involved especially the family of the lieutenant.
We need to be careful not to speculate on the cause since many things are possible. I agree that air brakes are designed to fail-safe and thus should not be the cause. I'm sure the investigation will determine the true cause but until then let's just pray for those involved.
Accidents happen.lawmakers pay raise has nothing to do with it.Good luck to them with their raises,I for one would proudly accept it.
My prayers and condolences goes out to Kevin Kelly's family. What a tragic and horrible thing this family now has to endure. May God grant them peace in knowing that Kevin is now with HIM. I know that his fellow firefighters will be a great comfort to the Kelly family, and God bless them all.
Quint-driver-
The crash scene was at the bottom of a very steep hill, brake fade is a possibility.
my condolences to the family, friends and to all firefighters who will all be grieving for their fallen brother. my heart aches for all.
Whoever crashed into the building is a complete idiot. This could have been avoided.
RIP Fire Lieutenant Kevin M. Kelley
What a tragedy. My prayers are with Lt. Kelly's family, as well as with his firefighting family. Instead of pointing fingers, and starting rumors, let us take the time to stop and support all involved. Is it possible that this was simply an accident. The families of all involved deserve our support and our prayers! My heart goes out to the residents of the building, the children.
My heart goes out to the family of the deceased firefighter. How brave they are. What a miracle that no children were killed in this tragedy.
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.
This was a 15, possibly more, year old apparatus. That's almost twice the preffered maturity of this vehicle's serviceability. Heaven forbid the investigation finds this truck should not have even been in service and this man died only to save the taxpayers money.
Everyone who mentions drugs and alcohol at a time like this really has a lot of nerve. Not everyone should have to pay for the sins of a few. These men and women risk their lives everyday for you and you should be ashamed that is all you can think of at a time like this.
Rip Lt Kelley and all those affected by this horrible tragedy. Thank you for your sacrifice.
To the people who choose to blame the firefighters, I dare them to take a career in risking their own lives to save those of others. Toxicology reports only show what someone has done days, even weeks before death. These people devote their lives to helping us. Most of the time they deal with bullshit that we all bring upon ourselves. They sit around waiting for the opportunity to help us, and all some of us can do is pick on them and scrutinize. They get nothing for their efforts. I hate you people that don't appreciate the few that are willing to be there to fix problems without throwing fault at anyone. WE need THEM...they just want to help us. Lay Off, And stop believing everything you read!!!! Idiots!
I bet those people who want to place blame on the Firefighters, would never consider joining the military, or devoting their lives to the safety of others. Shame on you all. My prayers to all involved.
Parker Hill is a very steep hill and that intersection is always busy. Thank god there weren't more people killed or seriously hurt. If this was a civilian driving a large truck and crashed we'd be talking about jail time.
God bless the BFD. My heart goes out to the families of everyone effected by this terrible accident.
God Bless Lt. Kevin M. Kelley may he rest in peace with brothers that have passed before him. God reach out to the Kelley family as well as the families of all who were injured. Please be strong and believe that all things happen for a reason, even if god is the only one who knows that reason.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless
Pearl Wirtanen Braintree, MA 02184
I Hope And Pray To God That The People That Are Making These Ridiculous Comments About These Firefighters Being Drunk, High, Driving To Fast, Knows What There Talking About Becasue, There Is Facts That Point To Brake Failure Or Some Sort Of Engine Problem! Let Me Ask You Do You Know What It Is To Go Out And Risk Your Life For People Everyday? I Am Sure That This Firefighter Did Not Intentionally Drive Through A Building Killing His Brother And Harming His Brother/Sisters And Innocent Children, This Gentleman Goes Out And Risks His Life For People Like You That When There Is A Mechanical Problem You People Jump To Him And His Private Life That He Did This On Purpose You People Have Alot Of Nerve! Until You Walk One Day In A Firefighter/EMS Personnel's Shoes Dont Criticize Are Lives And What Happens! Please Take A Moment And Love Your Family, There May Not Be A Tomorrow! God Bless Are Falling Hero!
My Prayers Go Out To The Family's Or The Lost And Injured!
-Nashley M. Watson
-CT Station 96
Is the writer of this article on crack? The truck is NOT 110 feet long! The LADDER on TOP of the truck is 110 feet! A simple look at the pictures could have told any sane person that the vehicle is nowhere near that long.
Don't write about something you haven't bothered to research.
RIP...LT. may god bless you, your family,the BFD, and all those involved in today's tragedy. you will be missed.
You know people really make me sick. The first thing out of a lot of these peoples mouths are I hope it wasnt drugs and achol that caused the accident. Lets not jump to conclussions. Have some respect for these firefighters who put there lives on the line to help people every day. Rest in Peace firefighter Kelly. God be with the people who got hurt and be with the familirs and friends that mourn
It wasn't the same truck that got in the accident just around a month ago. Yes it was the same company, but they were using a spare ladder truck. Stop trying to make it look like the fire department isn't keeping the trucks in good condition.
You ungrateful bunch, this Man spent the last 30 years serving you. At a time when his family needs you the most you turn your back on him. Boston Fireman are the very Fabric that this country is held by. You dare.
From the rest of decent America rest in peace brother, you are loved.
J.Mann
SJFD
I like the ideas of the CDL drivers here, with logical mechanical thoughts/reasons/disputes.
Barbara Dardia, post 10?, was already asking for firefighter pay raises so this, I guess, wouldnt have happened?
And yeah, put me in the crowd that wants the guy drug tested. Lord knows I would be, if I did the same with my car. Then again, I am in a brotherhood of my own ideas of level playing fields.
you now people get me really sick. i am reading some of these comments and some of the first thing that is said i hope there was no drugs or achol involved. Dont jump to conclusions These poor firefighters put their lives on the line every day to help people' Rest in peace firefighter kelly. God be with the people who were injured and be withe the family and friends who are mourning
I hope all those FFs shown in the video crawling all over that Police Crime Scene did not screw up any evidence that will be needed in the investigation of what is a possible M/V Homicide. Or evidence needed in a future civil suit on the families behalf. The FD needs to train their personnel on when to stay out of a crime scene. The FD had no business being near that truck once the living were rescued.
God bless Lt Kelly, his family and his fellow fire fighters at this horribly difficult time. His loss is felt deeply by all of his FF brothers and their families. These fire fighters know when they go out on a call they might not come back, and deserve the recognition and respect for doing a tough job with honor.
To those looking to turn this into a witch hunt for drug and alcohol testing, your comments are tacky, disrespectful, and old news. Let the man rest in peace, and keep his family in your thoughts. Someone's husband and father didn't come home tonight, so have some respect for the deceased, or keep your comments to yourself.
Three bells, Lt. Kelley. Time to come home.
Prayers and thoughts with your family.
J.F. Wolfe EMTB
Why is a 50 foot, 15 ton ladder truck making a "routine medical call" with four city employees on board? Wouldn't a 20 foot, 3 ton ambulance with two paramedics have sufficed? Why even put this type of wear and tear on such a specialized and expensive piece of equipment that is known to be difficult to maneuver on crowded streets and in bad weather?
HMM. A POSSIBLE DWI? IT'S HIGH TIME FOR BLOOD TESTS ... FOR ALL THOSE ON THE TRUCK.
Thank you Kevin, for everything you taught me. God bless you.
Hey "concerned reader"
"There were way more than 3 fatal crashes nationwide with ladder trucks from 1993 to 2007. What is your source?
Unfortunately, fatal firetruck crashes are a weekly occurrence throughout the country"
Are you ignorant or just trying to stir something up out of nothing? Those are accurate numbers. Go talk to Fire Protection folks. They keep all that stuff in records. Also, feel free to find the articles and proof of these 'weekly' occurrances.
Tragedy. That's all this is.
Its funny people can't be just sorry about the death of a great person, it's always drugs or liquor, that's not always the case, and if you drive on parker hill ave now that it is open go look at the skid marks. Our prayers are with their family and may god bless them and that's all it should be in this time right know, nothing else. Don't always believe everything you see, or hear.
And the union wants to fight against drug testing? This is a reminder that these men and women who put their lives in danger to protect ours are public servants handling very dangerous machinery.
Thoughts and prayers to the families and the children hurt and terrified by this.
We must have testing in these dangerous public safety jobs.
San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program has Fire Lieutenant Kevin M. Kelley, 52, of Quincy Boston in their thoughts and prayers.
I am a retired fire lt. from ct.(29 years)and would like to send my condolesces to the family of lt. kelley and to all my brothers in Boston.If boston is anything like waterbury,where I was on the job,the people in power only care when a tragedy happens,otherwise we are second class citizens,but we still do the job,a job very few are capable of doing.God bless you all,and keep fighting the fight
Anyone remotely familiar with the hill should know how ridiculously steep that street is... why the heck was the driver barreling down it??
Our prayers are with the family and all the firefighters that answer the call. May God bless all of you.
I cant believe that people believe that if air brakes fail that they just automatically have a back up system that applies the brakes.