2 fire trucks collide in Center City

Two fire trucks responding to an alarm collided at a Center City intersection yesterday, sending nine firefighters and one civilian to hospitals.

Among those most seriously injured was a lieutenant aboard Ladder 9 who was knocked unconscious and had to be extracted with the Jaws of Life after the crash at Eighth and Lombard Streets, officials said.

Lt. Richard Prather was expected to be admitted for observation overnight. By early evening, the other firefighters had been released, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said.

"Oh, gosh, it's a good day," he said after visiting with the injured and calling it a miracle that wounds were not more severe. One firefighter suffered a broken collarbone, possibly the worst of the injuries.

The crash between the ladder truck and Squrt 43 is under investigation.

Ayers said that none of the injuries was life-threatening and that he had spoken to the injured lieutenant at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Ayers said the officer's first question was, "How's my guys?"

Firefighters also were taken to Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University Hospitals for examination and treatment.

Also injured were Lt. Steve Kessler and Firefighters Shawn Conway, Keith Davis, and David Keller of Squrt 43, and Firefighters Anthony Russell, Charles Green, James Hegarty, and Donna Garrett of Ladder 9.

A woman who was in a flower shop that the ladder truck almost hit was shaken up and taken to a hospital for observation, Ayers said.

He said Ladder Company 9 and Squrt 43, both based at 21st and Market Streets, were returning from a call at Seventh and Market Streets about 11:20 a.m. when they received a second call to respond to a fire at 22d and Wharton Streets.

"Ladder 9 was west on Lombard Street, and we have Squrt 43 traveling south on Eighth Street," Ayers said.

At the scene, it appeared that the smaller Squrt truck had sideswiped the ladder truck, which slammed into a utility pole, bashing in the passenger side of the vehicle and shattering the wooden pole.

The Squrt truck ran into the back of a parked car, which bumped into another car.

Residents said they had heard sirens followed by a loud bang.

Ayers said that based on radio and 911 calls about the crash, "we understood immediately the severity of the accident."