Firefighter Struck By Unlicensed Driver

Firefighter struck, killed in crash at SC fire sceneAnother firefighter was in critical condition after two oncoming vehicles collided and were sent in the direction of the firefighters

Editor's note: Reports from multiple sources say the van Ortega was driving rear-ended a car, sending it into the median on the interstate. The car then hit two fire trucks, before striking firefighters Chance Zobel and Larry Irvin while they were tending to the brush fire.

WLTX

Expert Analysis Another tragic loss of a firefighter along our nation's roadways By Adam K. Thiel I think about roadway safety a lot; even more so on those occasions where I stop to help stranded motorists or arrive first on scene to a vehicle-related incident. While I always wear my traffic vest, carry a handlight when it's dark, do my best to position where I block the scene and place flares to provide advance warning, I know it's one of the most risky activities in the fire and emergency services. A great resource for learning how to protect ourselves along the highways and byways of the U.S. is the Responder Safety website sponsored by the Emergency Responder Safety Institute and Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association.

RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — The driver that Highway Patrol troopers say was responsible for a fatal accident that killed a firefighter and left another in critical condition Saturday has been charged.

Troopers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol charged 34-year-old Neida Ortega of Sumter with driving too fast for conditions.

Sgt. Kelley Hughes said the investigation will continue, though troopers completed an accident reconstruction Saturday.

Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said Firefighter Chance Hyatt Zobel, 23, was killed Saturday as he responded to a brush fire at 2:15 p.m. near mile marker 81 on Interstate 20.

Another firefighter, Larry Irvin, was also injured in the crash, and remains stable in critical condition at the hospital.

Officials say emergency vehicles were parked on the inside lane on the eastbound side of I-20.

Troopers say two vehicles were approaching the scene from behind, when a van driven by Ortega collided with another driven by a person from North Carolina.

Jenkins said flags will continue to fly at half-staff at all fire stations.

He asked that the community to pray for the familes as well as the Columbia-Richland Fire Department.

Zobel became a firefighter in 2007 and was a three-year veteran of Engine Company 4 and worked out of the firehouse on Spears Creek Church Road.

Jenkins says Irvin has been with the Fire Department for more than three years and was with Engine Company 4 and also stationed at Spears Creek Church Road

My opinion

This story further exemplifies the NEED for traffic control, and proper scene safety. Including setting up a shadow to protect the scene. This can also be used on grass fires, not just MVC's and medical calls. Don't forget to set up and block not just the lane the incident is in, but at least the lane next to it as well. Set your cones in an angle so that driver's don't just hit a wall and have time to merge over. Giving drivers advanced warning with signage, lights, traffic control, traffic vests for everyone on scene so they can be seen, and traffic wands for the firefighters controlling traffic. We happen to have a vehicle made especially for traffic with a construction style sign to direct traffic, and has an absorbent amount of traffic cones, both of our halls have a 4'X4' fluorescent pink sign reading EMERGENCY SCENE AHEAD that we set up. We use blocking techniques with our apparatus, and when working on or beside the highway we all use high-vis vests. We, thankfully, haven't had any incidents involving injured firefighters.