A Cobourg firefighter was rushed to hospital after a firetruck was struck by a transport on Highway 401 on Monday, February 3, 2025.
The collision happened at approximately 8 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of Highway 401 just west of Cobourg.
Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Ashfield spoke with Today’s Northumberland at the scene of the collision.
Ashfield said firefighters had responded to a collision in the westbound lanes of Highway 401 west of Burnham Street.
The four-man crew were on their way back to Cobourg heading eastbound when they saw an ambulance with emergency lights activated pulled over to the right shoulder of the highway and a vehicle in the ditch.
The firetruck parked behind the ambulance on the shoulder with emergency lights activated to act as a “blocker.
A “blocker” is a term that firefighters/emergency services use when they set up behind the scene of the initial collision. With the weight and size of a firetruck, they are commonly used as blockers in case a vehicle collides with the apparatus.
With the weight and size of the firetruck it would protect emergency service workers.
“The Captain was just getting back in the truck (on the front passenger side). He had gone to talk to the paramedics who said they were waiting for a tow (for the vehicle in the ditch).”
The transport slammed into the back of the firetruck and threw the firefighter into the ditch.
Other firefighters and paramedics rushed to the fallen firefighter to administer first aid and check on his condition.
Ashfield said its believed the firefighter received no serious injuries, but “he’s shaken up pretty bad.
We’re hoping for the best for him.”
The impact with the firetruck was so violent that one of the rear tires on the trailer came off and pushed the firetruck approximately one-metre to the right from where it was on the shoulder.
The driver of the transport didn’t stop at the scene, but did a short time later on Highway 401 eastbound by Division Street approximately three kilometres from the scene of the original collision.
“The driver got out and looked around, then got back in and drove away. He knew he hit us, but he just kept going.”
With a number of paramedics, firefighters and a tow-operator on scene, Ashfield said, they were “extremely lucky.”
“This is probably the most dangerous place we work as firefighters is out on the highway. Cars/transport don’t slow down. They don’t respect the fact that emergency vehicles are out here. They have to learn to slow down, pull over and get out of the way – because this is what happens when they don’t.”
There were no injuries to the people that were in the car in the ditch and police are continuing to search for the transport.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
