Two Summit Firefighters Taken To Hospital After Car Crash At Existing Accident Scene

SUMMIT, NJ — Two Summit firefighters, responding to a car crash on a highway Thursday morning, had to be taken to the hospital when another car crashed through a roadblock and sideswiped their fire vehicle, the city said.

The two firefighters were transported to Overlook Medical Center with minor injuries following the accident on Route 24 East, the city said.

At 2:15 a.m., according to the city, the Summit Fire Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident on Route 24 near the Broad Street exit ramp, closing one lane of traffic to oncoming vehicles.

As firefighters were exiting a fire engine that was positioned on the side of the road, their vehicle was broadsided by a second vehicle that crashed through the established road block, the city said.

“We are very fortunate that our firefighters sustained only minor injuries from the impact of the vehicle striking the fire engine,” said Summit Fire Chief Eric Evers. “If they had been climbing out even 30 seconds earlier, the outcome would have been entirely different.”

No other injuries were reported at the scene.

Evers added: “I caution drivers to slow down when they see flashing lights on a highway. It is for your safety and the safety of first responders.”

A city spokeswoman said that the New Jersey State Police are still investigating the crash.

Don't miss Summit breaking news alerts when they are announced, or get a free daily newsletter each morning with Summit news. Sign up with your preferences here.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.