KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. — On Thursday morning a box truck heading east on I-94 in Comstock Township had a scary run-in with first responders parked alongside the freeway. Assistant Chief of Comstock's Fire Department, Kevin Thompson said it shook him up when he saw the video.
"If the drivers aren't paying attention and then, you know, we're on the road just trying to do our job and then this kind of thing happens," said Thompson.
He said a box truck heading east on I-94 in Comstock Township hit three fire trucks and a Kalamazoo Sheriff's Office cruiser while working at the scene of a crash.
"We were on scene of an accident on I-94, we were in the process of clearing the scene and leaving when a box truck was coming down the road. He applied his breaks but he skidded right into our fire engines," said Thompson.
In the video, recorded by a Kalamazoo County Sheriff's deputy's dashcam, the box truck speeds past the cruiser, hitting the rear of the fire truck. The video shows the firefighters running away towards the ditch near an overturned pickup truck. Towards the end of the video, the truck slides forward on its side.
Thompson said the crash happened on the part of I-94 named after the late Comstock Township Fire Chief, Ed Switalski. He died after being struck and killed in 2017.
"Right near the site is where the sign is, that part of I 94 is named after fire chief, Ed Switalski, who lost his life just a mile and a half down the road on the highway. It absolutely could have been almost the same scenario. Yeah, so we're very fortunate that it wasn't" said Thompson.
Thompson told 13 ON YOUR SIDE that especially during this winter weather, he encourages drivers to use caution and slow down.
"Try to drive for the weather. You don't have to go 70 miles per hour on the highway. Leave early, so you can take your time and not be in a hurry. If you feel you need snow tires, that's not a bad idea, either. If you see a police officer fired fire engine, tow truck, anything on the side of the road, just try to give them room as much as you can," said Thompson.
Officials said that none of the firefighters were injured but the driver of the box truck did have some injuries. Two of the firetrucks have extensive damage.