A Rock Community Fire Protection District pickup was struck Aug. 8 while responding to a five-vehicle crash at I-55 and Richardson Road in Arnold, according to Arnold Police.
At 3:55 p.m., Rock Fire Battalion Chief Bill Flurry, 57, of Festus was headed to the accident in a 2008 Chevrolet F-250, with the warning lights and siren on, and while he tried to turn left from Hwy. 141 onto southbound I-55, the passenger side of the pickup was struck by a 1999 Dodge Ram 250 headed south on Hwy. 141. A 27-year-old Fenton man was driving the Ram and attempted to stop before hitting the Rock Fire pickup, which spun 180 degrees before coming to rest at the corner of the I-55 entrance ramp and Hwy. 141. The Ram traveled through the intersection and came to rest when it hit a concrete curb, the report said.
No injuries were reported for either driver, and both pickups appeared to be totaled, according to the report.
Arnold Police will seek charges against the driver of the Ram for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, failure to keep proper lookout and having no proof of insurance, Lt. Tom Leassner said.
“The big thing is do not do anything that distracts your driving, and when you hear sirens, slow down and pull over because you don’t know where they are coming from and where they will be,” Rock Fire Chief Jeff Broombaugh said.
Broombaugh said Rock Fire paid $33,960 for the pickup, and Rock Fire spokesman Ron Harder said the district has other vehicles it can use while the pickup is being replaced.
The accident Flurry was responding to occurred at 3:43 p.m. near the southbound I-55 exit ramp to Richardson Road when Jason Snowert, 36, of Arnold allegedly didn’t stop in time while approaching the ramp in a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado. The pickup struck the back of a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, which was driven by Adham Hijaz, 34, of St. Louis, the report said.
Then, the Elantra hit the back of a 2016 Toyota, which was driven by William Stevens, 29, of Arnold. The Toyota was pushed into the rear of a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado, which was driven by Benjamin Corliss, 18 of Arnold. That pickup then hit the back of a 2004 Hyundai, which was driven by John Price, 49, of St. Louis, according to the report.
Hijaz was transported by Rock Township Ambulance to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County, where he was treated and released, a hospital spokesman said.
No injuries were reported for the other four drivers.
The Elantra was totaled, and the rest of the vehicles were damaged, the report said.