• Font Size    
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

I-Team: Brake Failure Caused Fire Truck Crash

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +    Comments
Jan 21, 2009 8:00 am US/Eastern

I-Team: Brake Failure Caused Fire Truck Crash

Images: Lt. Kevin Kelley's Funeral

Images: Deadly Fire Truck Crash
BOSTON (WBZ) ― An investigation into a fatal Boston fire truck crash earlier this month has revealed that there was total brake failure on the left rear brake of Ladder 26, WBZ has learned.

According to sources of the I-Team, in addition to the back left brakes failing completely, the right rear brake was only operating at 10 percent, causing the truck to careen out of control and slam into an apartment complex on Jan. 10. Lt. Kevin Kelley  was killed and three other firefighters were injured. 

The crash happened on Huntington Avenue near Park Hill Avenue. Before crashing into the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, the truck hit two unoccupied SUVs and a brick wall.

WBZ has also learned that the front brakes of Ladder 26 were not properly adjusted.

Boston fire officials say the Board of Inquiry in the crash investigation is meeting on Wednesday.

The I-Team has obtained a union document showing the city of Boston has bought an average of three trucks a year under the Menino Administration, which is half the number purchased under former Mayor Ray Flynn.

Menino's office says Flynn was faced with a much older fleet, and that Commissioner Rod Fraser has instituted a replacement plan for trucks.

Brake issues were immediately suspected as a possible cause of the crash.

In the wake of all the mechanical issues, Mayor Thomas Menino ordered the fire commissioner to hire four licensed mechanics. The Boston Firefighter Union has also launched an investigation, hiring consultants to inspect the trucks.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

WBZ's Most Popular

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here
  •  * Will not be displayed with comment
  •  * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
  •  
  • Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login


Close Window Flag Comment


loading...
You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Boston Area News

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Corporation. All rights reserved.