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Phoenix Fire Department Captain hurt in crash
At around 6:00 p.m., on August 10, 2009, Phoenix Police and Fire were dispatched to the West Dunlap Avenue and Interstate 17 overpass in response to a traffic accident with injuries. Officers learned the fire department engine had been traveling east bound on Dunlap Avenue with emergency equipment activated in response to an emergency call, when a 23 year-old woman driving a four door Chevrolet Monte Carlo, entered the intersection and struck the fire engine. The collision propelled the fire engine into the west bound lanes of traffic on and hit several vehicles. A total of six additional vehicles were involved in this collision.
Phoenix Fire Captain Crystal Rezzonico, 49, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery for a serious head injury. Captain Rezzonico has been given a good prognosis for recovery. The driver from the passenger car was also taken to a local hospital where she, too, had surgery for serious injuries, but is currently in stable condition. Twelve others involved in this incident were either treated at local hospitals or on scene and have been released.
Incidents such as this are often avoidable; there are many things you can do to keep yourself and public safety personnel safe as you share the road. Pay attention to your surroundings both visually and by listening for sirens; don’t play your radio so loudly that you are unable to hear sirens. When you see an emergency vehicle with its lights and siren activated, whether it’s a fire truck, police vehicle, or ambulance, stay calm and pull your vehicle to the right of the road. You should come to a complete a complete stop, or slow down as much as possible if there isn’t room to stop. For more tips on how to share the road safely, visit http://phoenix.gov/fire/moveright.html.