Texas: Firefighters Survive Close Call On I-35; Charges Possible

Officials late Tuesday afternoon identified the two Waco firefighters who were injured when a car traveling at 70 miles per hour struck their parked truck as they battled a grass fire along Interstate 35 as Eric Riser, the officer in charge at the scene, and Terry Rouse.

One of the men suffered broken ribs and both received contusions, scrapes and burns when they were struck by the fire truck, which the force of the collision pushed eight feet directly into the firefighters.

“We’re very fortunate our firemen were not hurt more than they were last night,” Fire Chief John Johnston said.

The two firefighters and the driver of the Lexus sedan that hit the fire truck were taken to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center after the accident, which happened just before 8 p.m. Monday at Interstate 35 and New Road, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said.

Police have not released the name or information about the condition of the Lexus driver, but officials said the injuries were not life threatening.

Swanton says the accident is under investigation and that charges could be filed depending on the findings.

It wasn’t clear how much damage the pumper truck received in the wreck, but an official said the department has several trucks in reserve.

Investigators think the fire the injured men were extinguishing may have been caused by fireworks.