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Shown below are articles about the fire truck rollover on April 10, 2010.

It's now August 10, 2010.

It seems very suspicious that the driver, Dave Carol, resigned shortly after this rollover.

The notion that the rest of the firefighters involved in this rollover have been on paid medical leave for four months after violating departmental rules and not wearing seatbelts is extremely repugnant.

What have these guys been doing in the past four months? Running their side business?

Being a firefighter is probably a better racket than being a police officer.

Fire truck rolls over in Framingham  
  WHDH
FRAMINGHAM -- Four firefighters were taken to the hospital after their fire truck rolled over into a telephone pole in Framingham.

The truck flipped upside down and ended up right side up in the front yard of Rob McArthur's home on Edgell Road.

"We've had a number of accidents so my first thought was...not again," McArthur said.

McArthur said six other times vehicles have crashed into his yard.

The firefighters were returning from a call of cooking smoke on Vernon Street when the driver lost control, according to Framingham Fire Department Chief Gary Daugherty.

"There was no emergency speed, there was no siren, no red lights -- nothing. They were just driving down the road. For some reason, we had this accident," said Daugherty.

Firefighter Robert Delaney said he was seated behind the driver when the accident occurred.

"I just felt the thing kick and I remember thinking, 'There's no curve in the road here,' and the next thing, we just flipped over and went back the other way," Delaney said.

Kathy Harris was stunned to see the fire truck in her neighbor's front lawn.

"To see a fire truck, it's unbelievable. We're just lucky that hopefully none of the injuries were life threatening and that they'll be fine," Harris said.

The injuries to the firefighters were said to be minor. They were treated and released from the hospital. Delaney said he had a slight limp, a sore hip and a sore back.

The nine-year-old fire engine is a total loss, fire officials said.

Investigators will conduct an inspection into the accident, including a review of the truck's computer, which acts as a black box.

"We do have another truck that's similiar to this and if it's a mechanical problem, then we want to make sure it doesn't happen again," Daugherty said.

A crane pulled the fire truck out of the front lawn. The damaged utility pole was repaired.

Fire truck rolls over in Framingham April 10, 2010
Jeff Malachowski and media partner WCVB, Channel 5 FireHouse.com
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted Apr 10, 2010 @ 10:08 AM
Last update Apr 10, 2010 @ 03:18 PM
FRAMINGHAM -- Four firefighters were hurt and a 9-year-old fire engine totaled after Engine 7 skidded for an unknown reason, rolled over, hit a utility poll, spun and landed about 40 feet from a house at 495 Edgell Road this morning.

At a press conference near the crash scene this afternoon, Framingham Fire Chief Gary Daugherty said he still doesn't know what caused the driver to lose control of the fire engine shortly after 7:30 this morning. Skid marks can be seen on the road and a utility pole was sheared off. Shrubs in the McArthur family's front yard are uprooted.

All four firefighters in the truck were wearing seatbelts, Daugherty said. They were brought to MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham with non-life threatening injuries. Some have since been released. Daugherty said he won't release their names until all of the families have been notified.

The truck was heading back to the Water Street station after responding to a call of cooking smoke on Vernon Street. It was headed north on Edgell Road. After the crash, the windshield of the truck was shattered and the top of the cab crushed, according to witnesses who said shrubbery in the yard may have stopped the engine truck from going further. Hoses were strewn about.

A crane was used to remove the truck from the lawn and load it onto a flatbed tow truck. It was removed from the crash scene at about 3:15 p.m.

Power was shut off to part of the neighborhood after the crash. Edgell Road was closed from Brook to Frost streets, but was reopened at about 3:15 p.m.

Daugherty said he can't remember the last time such a serious crash involving a fire engine happened in town.

Reporting by Jeff Malachowski and media partner WCVB, Channel 5.

Framingham fire truck rolls over; 4 injured April 10, 2010
NECN: Tom Langford necn.com
(NECN: Tom Langford, Framingham, Mass.)

These arial pictures show the mess -- the result of Framingham fire engine number seven losing control on Edgell Road.

The 20 ton truck rolled over and landed in the front yard of the McArthur family.

"It sounded like an explosion," said Susan McArthur.

The crash -- at 7:30 a.m. -- jolted people out of bed, up and down the street.

"It sounded like a truck going up and down. Boom, boom," said neighbor Joe Picariello.

The fire chief says the truck was headed north on Edgell road, returning from a call at a normal speed, when the driver lost control.

The truck spun around 180 degrees, rolled over and landed in the yard in the upright position. The four firefighters on board ended up with minor injuries.

"All things considered, we count our blessings," said Framingham Fire Chief Gary Daugherty, "The safety of our personnel is paramount. and the construction of equipment is such that they walked away -- plus the wearing of the seatbelts."

Seatbelt wearing is a department policy in Framingham.

As for the truck, it is nine years old and was just inspected this week.

State Police are now investigating the crash, which left the truck 20 feet shy of the McArthur's front door.

Susan McArthur is thankful it stopped where it did. She, and a lot of people on Edgell Road, feel this could have been a lot worse.

Framingham fire truck rolls over; 4 injured April 10, 2010
WHDH-TV Staff and Associated Press msnbc.com
Updated 12:21 a.m. ET April 11, 2010

FRAMINGHAM -- Four firefighters were taken to the hospital after their fire truck rolled over into a telephone pole in Framingham.

The truck flipped upside down and ended up right side up in the front yard of Rob McArthur's home on Edgell Road.

"We've had a number of accidents so my first thought was...not again," McArthur said.

McArthur said six other times vehicles have crashed into his yard.

The firefighters were returning from a call of cooking smoke on Vernon Street when the driver lost control, according to Framingham Fire Department Chief Gary Daugherty.

"There was no emergency speed, there was no siren, no red lights -- nothing. They were just driving down the road. For some reason, we had this accident," said Daugherty.

Firefighter Robert Delaney said he was seated behind the driver when the accident occurred.

"I just felt the thing kick and I remember thinking, 'There's no curve in the road here,' and the next thing, we just flipped over and went back the other way," Delaney said.

Kathy Harris was stunned to see the fire truck in her neighbor's front lawn.

"To see a fire truck, it's unbelievable. We're just lucky that hopefully none of the injuries were life threatening and that they'll be fine," Harris said.

The injuries to the firefighters were said to be minor. They were treated and released from the hospital. Delaney said he had a slight limp, a sore hip and a sore back.

The nine-year-old fire engine is a total loss, fire officials said.

Investigators will conduct an inspection into the accident, including a review of the truck's computer, which acts as a black box.

"We do have another truck that's similiar to this and if it's a mechanical problem, then we want to make sure it doesn't happen again," Daugherty said.

A crane pulled the fire truck out of the front lawn. The damaged utility pole was repaired.

Edgell Road reopened after fire engine roll-over April 10, 2010
Jeff Malachowski and media partner WCVB, Channel 5. necn.com
Edgell Road reopened after fire engine roll-over
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted Apr 10, 2010 @ 10:08 AM
Last update Apr 10, 2010 @ 05:58 PM
FRAMINGHAM -- Four firefighters were hurt and a 9-year-old fire engine totaled after Engine 7 skidded for an unknown reason, rolled over, hit a utility poll, spun and landed about 40 feet from a house at 495 Edgell Road this morning.

At a press conference near the crash scene this afternoon, Framingham Fire Chief Gary Daugherty said he still doesn't know what caused the driver to lose control of the fire engine shortly after 7:30 this morning. Skid marks can be seen on the road and a utility pole was sheared off. Shrubs in the McArthur family's front yard are uprooted.

All four firefighters in the truck were wearing seatbelts, Daugherty said. They were brought to MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham with non-life threatening injuries. Some have since been released. Daugherty said he won't release their names until all of the families have been notified.

The truck was heading back to the Water Street station after responding to a call of cooking smoke on Vernon Street. It was headed north on Edgell Road. After the crash, the windshield of the truck was shattered and the top of the cab crushed, according to witnesses who said shrubbery in the yard may have stopped the engine truck from going further. Hoses were strewn about.

A crane was used to remove the truck from the lawn and load it onto a flatbed tow truck. It was removed from the crash scene at about 3:15 p.m.

Power was shut off to part of the neighborhood after the crash. Edgell Road was closed from Brook to Frost streets, but was reopened at about 3:15 p.m.

Daugherty said he can't remember the last time such a serious crash involving a fire engine happened in town.

Reporting by Jeff Malachowski and media partner WCVB, Channel 5.

Officials investigating Framingham fire truck rollover April 12, 2010
Kendall Hatch Metrowest Dailly News
Engine 7 crashed on Edgell Road this morning, sending four firefighters to MetroWest Medical Center with injuries.

FRAMINGHAM -- Officials are investigating what caused a 9-year-old fire engine to skid and flip onto its side Saturday morning.

"We have no idea what caused this crash," Fire Chief Gary Daugherty said yesterday. "No idea."

Daugherty said the four firefighters in Engine 7 - Capt. Bill Norton and firefighters Dave Carol - who was driving - Bill Clover and Bob Delaney were released from the hospital Saturday night. Deputy Chief Thomas Barbieri said they were sore after the crash, but none of them suffered major injuries.

The firefighters had been returning to the Water Street station, heading north on Edgell Road, after responding to reports of cooking smoke on Vernon Street, authorities said. But at about 7:30 a.m., the fire engine skidded, rolled over, hit a utility pole, spun and came to rest about 40 feet from a house at 495 Edgell Road.

The crash scene took hours to clear, with a crane being used to load the totaled fire engine onto a flatbed truck. It was being held in the mechanics' bay at the main station on Loring Drive until investigators could examine it today, Barbieri said.

Daugherty said officials from a state police accident reconstruction team and engineers from the truck's manufacturer, Pierce Fire Apparatus, are examining the engine today.

It was unclear yesterday whether all four firefighters were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. During a press conference Saturday, Daugherty said all four had been wearing. But Delaney told Daily News media partner WCVB-TV that he removed his seat belt to put on his pack when the crash occurred.

Daugherty said yesterday that he thought the firefighters had been buckled up, but he hadn't talked to them since the crash and would have to double check.

Delaney could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Investigators study Framingham's Engine 7 after crash April 13, 2010
Danielle Ameden 508-626-4416 Metrowest Dailly News
At Framingham Fire Headquarters Monday, State Police Trooper Paul Loud of the "truck team" inspects Engine 7 which rolled over Saturday morning on Edgell Road. State and local officials are investigating the accident.

Framingham Engine 7 inspected

FRAMINGHAM -- Investigators are checking a "black box," brake lines and the all-wheel steering system as they look for clues into Saturday's Engine 7 rollover that injured four firefighters.

State Police, Framingham Police and two engineers representing the Wisconsin truck maker yesterday spent several hours inspecting the damaged rig.

The team looked for mechanical deficiencies, took photos and examined the rear and underbelly of the truck, which was hoisted up on a hydraulic lift at Fire Department headquarters. Wrapped in yellow police tape, it has a flattened front right tire and broken windshield.

Fire Chief Gary Daugherty said the four men who were in the cab at the time of the crash are out of the hospital - but bruised and hobbling. One had stitches, while another has a possible shoulder injury, he said.

They won't return to active duty until cleared to do so.

"I don't believe there are any career-ending injuries," the chief said.

No cause has been identified, and Daugherty said all possibilities are being considered.

He said two mechanics are on staff to maintain the firetrucks, and they had worked on a wheel and air brake on the 9-year-old Engine 7 before putting it back into service last Monday. Typically, a firetruck's useful life is 12 or 13 years, he said.

Framingham is fairly unique compared to other communities, said Assistant Chief John Magri, in that Engine 7 and two of its other trucks have all-wheel steering. Framingham went that route in 1998, as the ability for the rear wheels to turn on those trucks allows them to maneuver down narrow streets, Magri said.

Magri said investigators are looking into whether that steering system could have played a role in the crash.

Engine 7, based at the Water Street station, is one of eight trucks on the department's front lines, the chief said.

The department has a couple of spare trucks it can use temporarily, but those older vehicles can't be relied upon long-term, he said.

Daugherty said getting a replacement on the road as quickly as possible is a priority.

Town Manager Julian Suso agreed yesterday, but said it would be tough to come up with $500,000 or so for a new truck during the current budget crunch.

Engine 7 was insured, so the town is working with the insurance company and counting on getting money to help pay for a new truck, Suso said.

The four firefighters involved - Capt. Bill Norton and firefighters Dave Carol - who was driving - Bill Clover and Bob Delaney, are all veterans with at least 20 years on the job, Daugherty said.

They had been heading north near 495 Edgell Road on Saturday about 7:30 a.m. when the truck skidded and rolled, knocking out a utility pole before spinning and coming to rest upright.

Daughtery said yesterday there is a black box onboard the truck that investigators will have analyzed.

The state police sent a forensic expert along with its truck team and accident reconstruction unit to the 10 Loring Drive headquarters.

Also, Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufacturing, which built Engine 7, sent two of its engineers to check for any problems with the Quantum truck.

The truck may have some salvageable parts, but the rest will be sold for scrap once the investigation is completed, Daugherty said.

He said department policy requires firefighters to be buckled up, but whether all four were wearing seat belts on Saturday is in question.

None of the four firefighters could explain what happened, the chief said.

"It's befuddling to me, but the facts are the truck had an accident and four guys got hurt," he said. "We want to know why."

Fire truck crash report in hands of Framingham fire chief July 30, 2010
Danielle Ameden 508-626-4416 Metrowest Dailly News
FRAMINGHAM -- State Police have sent Fire Chief Gary Daugherty the final report on the cause of April's Engine 7 crash that injured four firefighters, but authorities have yet to make the document public.

While mum on details, Town Counsel Chris Petrini said this week he met with Daugherty and Town Manager Julian Suso last week to review the report.

"We're evaluating the matter and what the town's options are," he said.

The 9-year-old Pierce Quantum pumper was totaled on April 10 as a crew of four, based at the Nobscot station on Water Street, returned from a call.

Veteran firefighter Dave Carol lost control of the rig about 7:30 a.m., and the engine skidded off Edgell Road and rolled onto its side, hitting a utility pole and spinning around before coming to rest.

Three of the firefighters are still out on medical leave, and Carol has retired.

Union president Peter DeVito said two firefighters - Bob Delaney and Bill Clover - had shoulder surgery last week.

"They're itching to get back as soon as they can," DeVito said. "They're both in slings."

He said the third, Capt. Bill Norton, is undergoing physical therapy.

In April, officials said the firefighters were treated and released from the hospital the day of the crash.

For several days after the accident, Framingham and state police crash experts and engineers from Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufacturing inspected Engine 7 and its black box, brake lines and all-wheel steering system.

Before finalizing their report, state police investigators returned last month to take the truck out for a test drive and conduct motion tests.

The Daily News in June requested a copy of the official report, and State Police Lt. David Wilson this week said the agency's legal department is reviewing a copy and may need to redact portions before releasing it.

A separate report was due from Pierce.

Last month, the town's insurance carrier declared Engine 7 a total loss and offered a $225,000 payout that the town accepted.

The town has been using a 17-year-old backup engine while shopping for a replacement truck.

A faulty steering system was blamed for Framingham's Engine 7 rollover, according to a police report. August 10, 2010
Danielle Ameden 508-626-4416 Metrowest Dailly News
FRAMINGHAM -- A faulty all-wheel steering system likely caused Engine 7's rollover crash April 10 that injured four firefighters, according to a long-awaited report released late yesterday.

Framingham and state police accident reconstruction experts concluded the Oshkosh all-steer axles led the 2001 Pierce Quantum pumper to go "wildly and violently" out of control on Edgell Road.

There is not a "single scintilla of evidence" that suggests veteran firefighter Dave Carol was speeding or otherwise at fault, according to the 18-page report released by state police.

However, the report states none of the four veteran firefighters aboard were wearing seat belts. Buckling up is required by department policy.

All four were injured and taken to MetroWest Medical Center - and the injuries they sustained "can be directly related to their failure to use seat belts," according to the report submitted by Sgt. William Pultar with the state police's Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section.

Capt. Bill Norton and firefighters Bill Clover and Bob Delaney remained out on paid medical leave as of late July, while Carol has retired. Their status could not be determined yesterday.

The report also showed mismatched brakes were installed on Engine 7, which is "a serious violation" of Title 49 of the Federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Code, according to the report.

Investigators conducted skid tests, however, that proved the brakes did not play a role in the crash, the report states.

The Board of Selectmen is set to discuss the report tonight behind closed doors and review its legal options.

Town Counsel Chris Petrini said he will review the findings with selectmen, who will decide whether to bring a lawsuit against Pierce, the Wisconsin-based truck-maker.

Fire Chief Gary Daughtery declined to comment yesterday on the report or crash.

According to the report, Carol was traveling just over 30 mph about 7:37 a.m. when the truck suddenly veered to the left near 495 Edgell Road.

The crew was returning to the Nobscot station on Water Street from a call at the end of a shift.

Carol tried to regain control by counter-steering to the right, which normally would have put the truck back on track, the report reads.

Instead, the truck veered to the right, where it broadsided and snapped a Verizon pole and rolled over 360 degrees before coming to rest upright, according to the report.

In less than 1.4 seconds, the truck "rotated almost completely sideways."

In April, Assistant Fire Chief John Magri said Framingham is fairly unique compared to other communities because Engine 7 and two other fire trucks out of eight on the front lines had all-wheel steering.

Framingham went that route in 1998, Magri said, as the ability for the rear wheels to turn on those trucks allows them to maneuver down the town's tight old streets to get closer to fires.

In the days after the crash, the department disabled the all-wheel steering feature on Engine 1, a 2000 model made by Pierce.

At the time, the department also said it would disable that function on Ladder 3 and use it only when needed - to maneuver around a curb, for instance.

Post-crash, Pierce sent two engineers to check for any issues with Engine 7.

In his report, Sgt. Pultar debunked the results of Pierce's investigation, claiming their engineer's analysis had "several flaws."

Pierce's report has not been released, but Pultar disputed the findings related to the truck's brakes and insisted they did not cause the crash.

Daugherty in April said the fire department has two mechanics on staff to maintain the fire apparatus, and they had worked on a wheel and air brake on 9-year-old Engine 7 before putting it back into service days before the crash.

A representative for Pierce could not be reached late yesterday afternoon.

Framingham Police Officer Robert Tibor was the primary investigator, assisted by the state police. The joint report includes diagrams, drawings, photographs and technical analysis.

The Daily News requested a copy of the official report in June, and state police redacted certain information before releasing it yesterday.

In June, the town's insurance carrier declared Engine 7 a total loss and offered a $225,000 payout which the town accepted.

The town has been using a 17-year-old backup engine while shopping for a permanent replacement.

Framingham officials mum on fire engine crash report August 11, 2010
Danielle Ameden 508-626-4416 Metrowest Dailly News
FRAMINGHAM -- Selectmen and Fire Chief Gary Daugherty refused to comment last night on the newly released report on April's Engine 7 crash after meeting behind closed doors to discuss it.

The chief and board members would not say whether the town will be taking legal action given police investigators' conclusion that faulty all-wheel steering likely caused the 9-year-old Pierce pumper to veer off Edgell Road and roll over on April 10, injuring the four firefighters aboard.

Town Manager Julian Suso said Engine 7 talks will continue in executive session before the board's next meeting on Aug. 24.

The officials were also mum on another finding in the report state police released on Monday: that the injuries the firefighters in the cab sustained "can be directly related" to their failure to buckle up. Wearing a seat belt is required by department policy.

"I think most of the guys do what they do at home and wear seat belts just for their own protection," firefighters union president Pete DeVito said yesterday.

DeVito said he never asked the four firefighters if they were strapped in as they were returning to the Nobscot station from a call around 7:30 a.m.

"We do wear seat belts whenever we can," he said. "We're supposed to."

Three of the department veterans who were injured in the crash remain out on paid medical leave. The fourth man, Dave Carol, who was driving the truck, retired as he had planned to do.

Selectmen Chairman Dennis Giombetti, Ginger Esty and Vice Chairwoman Laurie Lee declined to discuss the Engine 7 report or the seat belt issue.

Esty said she was bothered the report's results were printed in yesterday's Daily News.

Selectman Jason Smith said one of the four men hurt told him he was wearing his seat belt. "I 100 percent believe him," Smith said.

The long-awaited report cleared Carol, saying he was not speeding and made no driving error. Framingham and state police investigators, instead, blamed the crash on the truck's Oshkosh all-steer axles.

Town Counsel Chris Petrini on Monday said he would be working with selectmen to decide whether to bring a lawsuit against Pierce Manufacturing, the Wisconsin-based truck maker.

As the board met last night, selectmen in Brookline also convened and decided not to hire Suso for their vacant town administrator position.

The Brookline board went with ex-Winchester manager Melvin Kleckner over Suso and two other finalists.

Suso said it was an honor to be considered for the job and he wishes Kleckner and Brookline well.

During their regular meeting last night, Framingham selectmen committed to beef up code enforcement efforts after hearing an update from Building Commissioner Mike Foley. Foley said he has lost staff, which has hurt his ability to keep up with inspections.

"I'm a firm believer that we need to be more aggressive in this area," Giombetti said, calling the short staffing "troubling."

The board also:

* Announced it has reached an agreement with Eastleigh Farm owner Doug Stephan to grant temporary and permanent easements for public drinking water main work and installation of back-flow prevention devices on his Edmands Road property. The town will pay Stephan about $18,000. * Prepared to send the Environmental Protection Agency a letter in which the town opposes the EPA's plan to address Sudbury River contamination by dumping sand on mercury in Framingham Reservoir No. 2. The main source of the toxins is the former Nyanza dye factory in Ashland.

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