Telegraph fire demob - Cal Fire engines in accident

Cal Fire vehicles involved in accident - Two cars collide with two Cal Fire engines.
Two cars collide with two engines; only one person injured.

Story at: http://www.mercedsunstar.com./167/story/380473.html
By VICTOR A. PATTON
vpatton@mercedsun-star.com

Several Cal Fire firefighters leaving Mariposa went from the Telegraph fire to a lot more excitement than they wanted.

They were involved in a multivehicle collision, including several fire trucks, on Highway 99 near Harvey Pettit Road.

The accident happened after two cars collided with two Cal Fire engines at 10:21 a.m. Saturday. A 2007 Chevrolet truck belonging to Cal Fire was also damaged during the accident, according to California Highway Patrol spokesman Shane Ferriera.

Ferriera said a 51-year-old woman was driving a 2005 GMC Sierra northbound on Highway 99 at about 65 miles an hour. The woman slowed her car for a fire truck making a left turn in front of her. An 18-year-old man driving behind her in a 2002 Ford Explorer didn't see the woman slow down and swerved his car to avoid a collision.

The teen lost control of his car, however, and collided with the woman's Sierra. Ferriera said both cars then swerved across the center median and collided with the two fire trucks, which had been stopped in a left turn lane. The woman's car also hit nine safety barrels on the freeway's median; one of them went airborne and struck the front windshield of the Cal Fire 2007 Chevrolet truck, causing moderate damage.

Ferriera said the woman suffered minor injuries, although no one else was hurt.

The fire engines received minor damage while the other cars involved sustained major damage.

Alcohol wasn't a factor in the accident, Ferriera said.

Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com