GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FIREFIGHTER PINNED BY RECREATIONAL VEHICLE

On the afternoon of Thursday, March 29th, North Rim fire crew supervisor Aaron Fritzer was driving east on Desert View Drive when he came upon two vehicles that appeared to be disabled on the roadside. Fritzer stopped his NPS fire vehicle to render aid. He contacted the visitors and was in the process of walking back to his truck to call for a tow truck when both he and his vehicle were struck by an eastbound motor home. Fritzer was pinned under the RV, but was able to extricate himself and call for assistance. His truck was totaled. Fritzer was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, treated, and later released. He is currently recovering from an injury to his back. The accident occurred during a late afternoon snowstorm that had caused slick road conditions throughout the region. Desert View Drive was closed following the accident and remained closed until about 10 p.m. [Submitted by Maureen Oltrogge, Public Affairs Officer]