Deputies still looking for pickup that caused fire truck crash

Deputies still looking for pickup that caused fire truck crash

May 16, 2005

KNOXVILLE (WATE and AP) -- Knox County sheriff's deputies continue looking for the driver of an F-250 pickup truck who caused a crash that injured firefighters and destroyed a fire engine.

The crash occurred May 13th in Halls and sent two firefighters to a hospital with what are described as muscle and bone injuries. They were released about 12 hours later.

Witnesses say the driver of the pickup crossed a double yellow line to get around a vehicle that was turning and found himself staring at the oncoming fire engine.

Rural/Metro Fire Department Captain Jeff Devlin says the driver of the fire engine had to turn off the road to keep from sending the heavy vehicle into the pickup.

The engine snapped off a utility pole and struck several trees, leaving the quarter-million-dollar fire truck a total loss.

Witnesses say the pickup driver was talking on a cell phone when the crash occurred and took off when he saw the fire engine crash.

The pickup is described as a red F-250 with a white stripe around it. If you have any information about it, call (865)-215-2444.

6 News Anchor/Reporter Danielle Banks contributed to this report. Some portions of this report, copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.