UPTON, Ky. (WDRB) — For the second time in three months, stopped emergency vehicles from a small, rural Kentucky fire department were struck by distracted drivers on Interstate 65, highlighting the persistent dangers first responders face on major highways.
Over the weekend, a distracted motorist ripped the front bumper off an Upton Fire Department truck, resulting in an estimated $5,000 in repairs. The collision occurred while the truck was positioned to protect a crash scene.
"My second thought was, I am not even done with the first insurance claim," said Upton Fire Department Chief Tyler Hiser.
The weekend collision follows a major crash in May, when a semitruck rear-ended another Upton fire engine. While no injuries were reported, the May crash caused severe damage that ultimately totaled the emergency vehicle, costing the department $150,000. Replacing a modern fire truck can cost $600,000 or more — a devastating blow for a small agency.
"We are a very small, rural department with limited funding," Hiser said. "When something like this happens, we strongly rely on our city to help us out."
Highway crashes involving first responders carry a painful history in Hardin County. In 2014, Glendale Fire Lt. Jonathan French was struck and killed by a motorist while assisting at an accident scene. Since French's death, there have been six crashes involving Hardin County fire departments and distracted drivers.
In response to the recurring safety threat, Kentucky Sen. Matt Deneen is championing the Emergency Roadway Blocking and Safety Grant. The proposed legislation would allocate $6 million to fund mobile safety barriers and buffer devices designed to shield emergency personnel and vehicles from oncoming highway traffic.
"It is about saving lives first," Deneen said of the grant. "It is about ensuring that our emergency service personnel that are responding to these highway accidents work safely and return home to their families."
Upton officials are still determining the final costs associated with replacing the truck destroyed in May. In the meantime, local officials are urging drivers to exercise caution and remain vigilant near active crash scenes.
"These are firefighters that are out here doing everything they can to make sure they are safe," Hiser said. "The public has a responsibility to make sure they keep them safe."
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