A little after noon today a firetruck responding to a 911 call in Staten Island slammed into a van filled with special needs adults leaving one dead, two in critical condition and another twelve in the hospital with minor injuries. The truck from Ladder 81 had its lights and sirens on as it sped down Richmond Road to the Staten Island Expressway when the van, which had eight passengers and a driver in it, made a left turn onto Richmond from Burgher Avenue.
The van, from a company called Lifestyles for the Disabled, had a green light in its favor, according to witnesses. The force of the collision spun the van 180 degrees, smashing its tailgate into a concrete wall. Reportedly the firefighters immediately jumped to action to help extricate the victims from the wreckage.
The victim has not yet been identified and traffic on Richmond Road is being diverted in both directions.
