Feb 26, 2024

Driver airlifted to hospital after crash into Kan. fire station

Posted Feb 26, 2024 9:00 AM
Photos Independence, Kan. Fire and EMS
Photos Independence, Kan. Fire and EMS

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Sunday in Montgomery County.

Independence Fire-EMS responded to the motor vehicle accident behind the Fire-EMS station in the 900 Block of west Myrtle in Independence, Kansas, according to a social media rep ort.

On duty staff reported via radio a loud explosion sound at the station and found a full sized pickup had struck the back of the station. Fire-EMS quickly responded with fire and EMS units and began treating an entrapped occupant.

Medflight was requested to the scene to transport the patient. Fire-EMS extricated and moved the patient to the helipad for transport.

Bollards, a dumpster and fencing stopped the vehicle from entering the station, where firefighters were seated at a table with only a window separating them from the truck.

A tire was found lying on the patio furniture next to the building along with car parts and debris.  Firefighters reported seeing the dumpster fly into the air and above the canopy before striking the canopy roof and falling back to the ground.

"It was a loud explosion, we thought the energy center for the hospital building had blown up," one firefighter commented. Another stated, "I saw the dumpster fly above the canopy roof, I couldn't figure out what could have exploded. "Firefighters were a little shaken to realize they were just feet from where the vehicle came to a stop.