SANFORD — Tuesday’s snowstorm and icy roads are being blamed for a strange accident that damaged a Sanford fire truck, a Sanford police cruiser, and an ambulance from the town of Alfred.

Capt. Gary Cushing of the Sanford Fire Department said the fire department sent two ambulances and a fire truck to the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on Route 99 around 3:30 p.m.

That emergency call left Cushing — he was alone in the station because one person called in sick Tuesday — to drive Engine 4 to a medical emergency at 71 Thompson St. Cushing said he went inside the home to attend to a patient with a history of cardiac problems.

While he was inside the home, a Sanford police cruiser parked behind the fire truck, which slid down the hill and hit the cruiser. Cushing had placed a wedge under the rear wheel of the truck to prevent it from sliding but the ice on the street proved too much.

Meanwhile, an ambulance from the town of Alfred arrived and parked in front of the fire engine. While the medics went inside the home, the ambulance also slid down the hill and hit the front of the fire engine.

“We didn’t see what happened because we were all inside the home,” Cushing said.

Cushing said the cruiser received significant damage to its front end, but is reparable. The fire truck received minor damage to the front and rear bumpers, and the ambulance’s rear bumper and step-up panel were damaged. No one was injured.

Once public works crews sanded the street, the ambulance was able to leave the home with the patient, who was taken to a local hospital. The person’s condition was not available.

Copy the Story Link