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2 Omaha firefighters struck by oncoming SUV

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By JEAN ORTIZ / The Associated Press

Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 - 05:36:54 pm CST

OMAHA, Neb. — Two Omaha firefighters responding to an injury accident on Interstate 80 are recovering after being struck by a sport-utility vehicle that may have lost control on the icy roadway.

Firefighters Tom Bartek and Seth Gruber — both six-year veterans — were working along the eastbound shoulder of I-80 late Saturday when the SUV lost control and slid into them, fire officials said. One of them was thrown more than 50 feet down an embankment.

Bartek and Gruber were taken to Creighton University Medical Center for treatment. Both were released Sunday morning, Capt. Jim Gentile said.

Gentile was unable to describe in greater detail the extent of their injuries, which were non-life threatening.

The driver of the SUV was not injured.

Omaha police said neither speed nor alcohol were factors in the crash, but icy conditions likely are to blame for several collisions late Saturday and into early Sunday.

The National Weather Service reported freezing drizzle was followed by light snow in the area late Saturday and into early Sunday.

In 2007, 26 firefighters nationwide were involved in fatal vehicle collisions, Gentile said, citing statistics from the National Fire Protection Association.

In 1989, Omaha lost Battalion Chief John Wilcox after he was struck by a vehicle in a similar incident, he said.

“People just have to be careful and be aware of their surroundings and reduce their speed accordingly,” Gentile said.


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nemo wrote on November 30, 2008 6:45 pm:
" It's sounds like these guys are ok and I'm glad. I've always thought that responding to something like that would be so scary. I'd just like to know how the suv lost control of itself like that. "

 4x4 wrote on November 30, 2008 7:02 pm:
" but if I drive a 4x4 I won't slide. I can take off as fast as I want, drive as fast as I want and ...crash as fast as I want.
Throw in a cell phone and kids, and I am a perfect driver. "

 AP wrote on December 1, 2008 5:18 am:
" I wish you two a quick recovery and thank you for your service!!! "

 Doug wrote on December 1, 2008 5:48 am:
" Um nemo, they said it was due to icy conditions.

4x4, I understand your message. 4x4s do not stop any better than any other vehicle but they do slide less and maintain control better. "

 Driver wrote on December 1, 2008 6:05 am:
" This just goes to show that just because you drive a 4x4, you can lose control just as easy as a 2x4.

4x4's are no safer on ice. "

 amazing wrote on December 1, 2008 10:04 am:
" Just reference this to the other article about Lincoln putting down a brine solution. People are already complaining about it. I realize that this happened on a state maintained roadway but this could have happened just as easily in Lincoln. For five cents a gallon is it not worth it when economically feasible? I don't know all the facts on this incident but I can tell you from experience that a lot of people do not slow down or even get in the other lane when they see emergency vehicles. "

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