CENTRE WELLINGTON – A Centre Wellington firefighter is recovering at home after a serious collision involving a fire truck.
On Tuesday, a Centre Wellington Fire and Rescue truck was attending to an alarm on Side Road 10 when the truck veered off the road and ending up on its side against a tree.
One man was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after being trapped in the truck.
In a follow-up interview on Wednesday, chief Tom Mulvey said the man has been released from hospital Tuesday night with two broken ribs, several bruises and cuts. Mulvey said he visited him after he was released and spoke with him again today.
“He’s sore but moving around by himself,” Mulvey said.
Mulvey said it is good news these injuries are not as severe as anticipated.
“We had got word from EMS that it could be pelvis, broken legs, femurs, at least that and he was flown to Hamilton,” Mulvey said.
Mulvey said it was hard-packed snow and slippery road conditions that led to the incident.
The Ministry of Labour was called but Mulvey said they decided not to attend or investigate.
There is no estimate on the damage caused to the truck as the insurance adjuster hasn’t seen it at this point.
Mulvey said it’s also not known if this truck is a write-off or if it can be fixed but acknowledged there is extensive damage.
The Town of Erin’s fire department has offered to lend Centre Wellington a truck that still works but has been taken out of service. Mulvey said they’re looking into how to insure that.
The support didn’t stop at the Town of Erin, but Mulvey said he was on his phone answering calls, texts and emails until late into Tuesday night.
“We had people reach out from all over the province, the community, fire departments from all over were offering support,” Mulvey said. “It’s an amazing family to be a part of and I certainly was proud to be fire chief.”
