Fire engine crashed on way to old car crash

TWO firefighters remain in hospital after their engine crashed into a ditch on the way to the scene of a crash which had already been dealt with.

The overturned car that the firefighters were responding to. Picture: Jon Savage

All six members of the Haddington fire crew had to be cut out of their wrecked engine by colleagues from North Berwick and Musselburgh following the smash on the A6137 near Ballencrieff, at 9.50pm on Sunday.

The crew was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment and four men were subsequently discharged.

The two men who remained in hospital yesterday are not thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

Two firefighters are still in hospital. Picture: Greg Macvean

John Dickie, local senior officer for the area, said: “Our thoughts and best wishes are with our personnel who were injured in the road traffic collision.

“All six were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary following the incident, four were subsequently released following treatment and two remain in hospital.

“We wish them all a speedy recovery. Welfare support has been put in place for all crew members and their families.

“Alternative fire cover arrangements have also been instigated for Haddington whilst affected personnel are off duty.”

The fire crew were injured in the incident. Picture: John Devlin

It is understood the appliance was called to a single-vehicle collision, which police had already dealt with earlier that evening on the nearby B1377.

Police have confirmed that officers attended the crash involving a silver Renault Clio at about 7pm on Sunday.

The 35-year-old male driver suffered minor injuries after his car crashed through a fence and came to rest on its side in a field.

Paramedics treated the man at the scene but the fire brigade was not called.

The same wreck was spotted later in the evening by an onlooker and reported again at about 9.45pm.

It has emerged the report was a duplicate and yesterday the damaged Clio was still lying by the road with a large yellow “Police aware” sticker attached.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland received a call from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service [on Sunday] night at around 9.30pm reporting that they were responding to a possible road traffic collision.

“Police established that this had been dealt with earlier in the evening and this information was passed to SFRS.”

The fire engine was removed from the scene yesterday morning but the steep embankment had been damaged and a power line hung low over the ditch.

Red traffic cones were in place around the scene, which was on a sharp bend in the road.

Iain Stewart, vice-chairman of Longniddry Community Council, said: “There is quite a severe bend at that site but it is quite well signposted and most folk in the area know to watch out.”

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash by Police Scotland.