Fire Truck Driver Charged for Running Red Light in Three-Vehicle Crash Involving School Bus, Police Say
An Owen Sound fire truck ran a red light, colliding with a school bus and delivery van. Two people suffered minor injuries. Police have laid charges.
Two people were taken to hospital Monday afternoon following a multi-vehicle crash involving an Owen Sound Fire Services truck, a school bus, and a delivery van — a collision police say was caused by the fire truck failing to stop at a red light.
The crash happened just before noon on December 15 at the intersection of 14th Street West and 2nd Avenue West, a busy crossing near downtown Owen Sound.
According to the Owen Sound Police Service, the fire truck struck both the school bus and the delivery van after running the red light.
One student aboard the school bus and the driver of the fire truck were transported to Brightshores Health System with what were described as minor injuries.
While police confirmed that a red-light violation caused the crash, they did not specify whether the fire truck was responding to an emergency call at the time. Emergency vehicles are permitted to proceed through red lights under specific conditions while responding to emergencies, provided it is safe to do so.
The driver of the fire truck has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act with failing to stop for a red light (Section 144.18). Police have not publicly identified the firefighter involved, nor have they said whether any internal investigation by Owen Sound Fire Services is underway.
Owen Sound Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash camera footage of the incident to contact the investigating officer, PC Lantz, at 519-376-1234.