June 27, 2016 By Michael Florio
A bus collided with a FDNY truck in Astoria Sunday leaving 19 people injured, including five firefighters.
The FDNY truck was on its way to a fire with its lights flashing and siren screaming, when it was struck by a Q100 bus at around 12:30pm at the intersection of 21st Street and Ditmars Blvd.
The accident left 19 people injured, although none of the injuries were deemed life threatening, an FDNY spokesman said. However, a pregnant woman, a 9-year-old girl and a baby were hurt.
One firefighter suffered lacerations to the back of his head, and another had injuries to his back and neck, a NYPD spokeswoman said.
The bus had the green light when it struck the firetruck, the New York Post reported.
A spokesman for the MTA was unable to confirm this, but stated that the agency is investigating the accident.
The truck was heading to a blaze at 8-01 26th Ave, according to an FDNY spokesman.
That fire was called in at 12:14 pm and was under control at 1:19 pm, the spokesman said.
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11 Comments
“At Scene” is correct. As another eye witness to this accident Id like to say that this story is spinning a different tale. First and foremost, the firetruck was heading north on 21st street which seems odd considering they were going to a fire on 26&8. Who knows what information was collected by the investigators and IA officials, but this story is not accurate. Also the time stamp on my phone when The vehicles collided was 1219.
Terrible, but I’m glad everyone seems alright.
The new Mt. Sinai ambulance entrance is a situation like this waiting to happen. It’s a serious problem. 30th Ave is often impacted – at mid-block – with a variety of idling ambulances (including private ones), EMS, fire trucks and with buses trying to pass by. And then there’s pedestrians crossing across the ambulance ramp. A couple of weeks ago I encountered an elderly driver trying to navigate all of this – really not good. I don’t know how the planning commission could have approved the arrangement. It strikes me as really unsafe.
Of course the bus driver is at fault.. The Q100 bus travels regularly @ 40-45 MPH on this stretch of 21 Street. If you don’t believe me, just stand at the corner of 21 St/ Ditmars and watch them zoom by.
Thanks Glenn Matston, you’re one Hella of a guy!
I was at the scene. The bus did not hit the firetruck. The fire truck slammed right into the middle of the bus. T-boning it.This then sent the bus across the lanes on 21st street slamming into parked cars. Thankfully the cars were there because this was next to an outdoor eatery that people were sitting and eating. If not for the parked cars, the situation could have been a lot worse.
This is the bus driver’s fault. Emergency vehicles always get right of way.
They get the right of way, but if there is a vehicle already there they are not suppose to hit it. Either way, this will result in lawsuits against the city.
Yes, because people on bikes never get hit by motor vehicles.
People on bikes actually hit cars. If a cyclist is on a road with “motor” vehicles. That cyclist should be aware of his/her surrounds. Not ride around like they’re untouchable especially when the visibility for cyclists is low to “motor” vehicle operators. Personally as a driver, I don’t care about cyclists (the ones that take car lane and cause congestion), as a cyclist I ride respecting the motor vehicles on the road. I ride from Astoria to Manhattan every night for work (without lights) and I have never had a problem in the past 7 years
It’s really a shame. Fewer people would have been hurt if they just rode bikes.
The pregnant women, 9 year old, and infant should have just been cycling. Why even have public transportation when we have citi bikes. Like c’mon people it’s common sense. Firefighters as well should be cycling, we should use NY’s taxes to make city-official bike lanes as well. This would have never happened if everyone just adopted to riding a bike.
-How every biker thinks