Dec 10, 2007 6:54 am US/Eastern
3 Killed When SUV Crashes Into Fire Truck
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
One day after a fatal crash in Northwest Baltimore, officials are still investigating what caused a SUV and a fire truck to crash into one another, killing three people instantly.
Mike Schuh reports firefighters got an emergency call around 3 a.m. Sunday, and moments later their run ended in a fiery crash that left three people dead and so many unanswered questions.
A call for help ends in heartbreak. Pictures obtained by Eyewitness News show the aftermath of a fiery crash between a Baltimore City fire truck and an SUV.
Investigators say firefighters from Firehouse 45 were on their way to an emergency call in Northwest Baltimore when their engine truck collided with a sport utility vehicle, crushing it against a traffic signal pole.
"[It was] 55 feet long. Thousands of pounds. Very, very heavy vehicle to be able to stop on a dime," said Kevin Cartwright from the Baltimore City Fire Department.
The sheer force of the crash killed all three people riding inside the SUV-- Iryna Petrov, 49, her husband Mikhail Petrov, 35, and another man, Igor Saub, 24.
Four firefighters were also taken to Shock Trauma with minor injuries.
"Right now we're praying for the families of those individuals as this continues to be investigated. It's my understanding that the firefighters are OK. There were some minor injuries," said Mayor Sheila Dixon.
Police aren't yet saying who, if anyone, ran a red light, whether speed was a factor, or who was at fault. They expect to release that information as early as Monday.
Hours after the crash, emergency crews remained on scene to repair broken power and light poles. Accident investigators are looking to reconstruct the moments leading up to the tragic crash.
"It was somewhat wet and a slight rain at that time, so whether that played a factor is yet to be determined," said Cartwright.
All members of the fire crew will be tested for alcohol and drugs as well as interviewed about what happened.
The call they were heading to turned out to be burning food in someone's home.
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