Maryland: Driver hits fire truck intentionally blocking lanes

A Maryland volunteer fire department fire truck that was helping block cars from driving to close to a crash scene was struck by a van Thursday night, leading to one critical injury. Still, the blocking maneuver is necessary, says Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Chief Spokesman Mark Brady.

Two crashes shut down the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway after 11 p.m. Thursday, south of Ritchie Marlboro Road. A Ritchie Volunteer Fire Department fire truck positioned at the back of the accident scene was hit by a van and the van’s driver was critically injured.

“They were providing that barrier of protection when they were struck from the rear,” Brady says.

The maneuver where a fire engine blocks several lanes of traffic is called “barrier protection,” and motorists may see examples of it at scenes along the Beltway or Interstate 95.

Had the engine not blocked EMS, firefighters and others who were working the accident, there could have been more victims of the accident, Brady says.

He says the safety protocol has saved lives on several occasions in the county.

“I know people get upset with us when they pass an accident scene, after a long traffic backup, and when they get up there and see this,” Brady says referring to barrier protection.

Drivers are not paying enough attention while coming up on an accident scene no matter how many flashing lights and road flares are out there, Brady says. Hence the need for barrier protection.

“We’ll continue to do it because it has proven to save lives,” he says.