San Antonio Fire Department’s Ladder 35 Rollover Report

Click on the picture above to watch the report from KSAT

Excessive speed and poor judgment caused the rollover accident involving a San Antonio Fire Department‘s Ladder 35, according to a report obtained by KSAT. The ladder truck and an engine were headed to a structure fire in November. The engine was able to make the left turn, but Ladder 35 rolled. Four firefighters were injured.

One witness told KSAT Ladder 35 and the responding engine were possibly racing.

Fire Chief Charles Hood said there is no indication that the two trucks were racing and that the driver of the truck that rolled had only minor accidents before. Still, he said this case did lead to changes.

“Every member of that accident has been disciplined,” Hood said.

An investigation into the accident showed the ladder truck did not stop where it should have, that seat belts were not being used and that it was caused by excessive speed for the conditions.

The report also showed the ladder truck did not brake, the throttle was held at full open and the speed was as high as 35 mph.

The report’s conclusion: the accident was the result of excessive speed and poor judgment.

Two firefighters remain off the job.

KSAT’s Bryan Mylar has the complete story here.

Hear press briefing audio from Chief Hood at the scene in November here. Another photo from the rollover is here.

MySanAntonio.com’s original story from November is here.