Boston Area News

BOSTON (WBZ) ― An investigation has began into the cause of the Boston Fire Department ladder truck crash Friday that killed one firefighter, critically injured another, and tossed glass at a half-dozen children.

Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said Saturday that the department will convene a board of inquiry to look into the cause and come up with recommendations. He declined to comment on reports that truck's brakes may have failed in the accident.

Lt. Kevin Kelley, a 52-year-old father and a 30-year veteran, was killed when the truck crashed into the Mission Park high-rise after returning from a routine call. Another firefighter aboard had a broken leg and two others had minor injuries.

The firefighter who was driving the truck when it crashed suffered serious injuries but was released from the hospital on Saturday. WBZ has learned he is a 24-year-old Iraq War veteran, though fire officials declined to release his name.

A fourth firefighter broke his ankle trying to rescue the crew on scene. In addition to the children, four other civilians were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries.

The Ladder 26 truck slammed into Roxbury Tenants of Harvard building at 835 Huntington Ave. near Parker Hill Ave. around 2:30 p.m. Friday.

 View: Street View Map Of Scene

BRAKE PROBLEMS?

The Boston Globe reported Saturday that the fire truck had brake problems in October and had recently undergone repairs costing the city about $22,000. According to the report, which cites maintenance records, the brake problem was discovered during an Oct. 14 inspection.

Investigators will be looking into the possibility of mechanical failure.

WBZ has learned that the firefighter's union has cited maintenance issues within the Boston Fire Department in the past few years.

 Read: Fire Truck Crash: What Went Wrong?

COMMUNITY IN MOURNING

Kelley's body was pulled from the wreckage and put into an ambulance just before 4:30 p.m., as his fellow firefighters stood in a solemn line, holding their helmets to their hearts.

"We in the public safety community have lost a dear and valued member of our family. Lt. Kelley will always be remembered as a man who cared about his community, as well as, the men and women he served," Boston police Commissioner Ed Davis said Saturday. "On behalf of the department, I offer our sincerest sympathy and support to Lt. Kelley's family, friends and fellow firefighters during this very difficult time."

Kelley was one of the firefighers in the 2005 Discovery Channel's program "Firehouse USA-Boston." The show featured Ladder 26.

His father was a Boston firefighter out of Ladder 1 in North End for 29 years.

Kelley's fellow firefighters described him as a "jokester" and "easy going." Capt. Arthur Johnson said Kelley loved the excitement of being a firefighter.

"His family came first, but his fire department family was a close second," Johnson said. "We're going to miss him. It's a big hole. We're going to miss him."

 Watch: Fellow Firefighters Remember Friend

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino met with Lt. Kelley's family after the crash and offered them his condolences and to Kelley's fellow firefighters.

"This is a sad day for the firefighters," he said. "They answered the call, they were going back to the house. An accident like this, we can't answer why or how come."

Kelley leaves behind three adult daughters and a wife.

Boston fire officials say the fire truck was returning from an emergency call on Parker Hill Ave placed at 2:03 p.m. It left the scene at 2:30 p.m., and minutes later it slammed into two parked vehicles before going through the brick wall in front of the apartment building. Officials said there were no occupants inside the cars involved.   

FUNERAL ARRAIGNMENTS:

A wake is scheduled for Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Keohane Funeral Home at 785 Hancock St. in Quincy.

Kelley's funeral is scheduled for Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Ann Church at 757 Hancock Street.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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