ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

The front of a fire truck was completely removed and shredded, and a local firefighter suffered minor injuries in an accident last Wednesday.

Seward County Sheriff Gene Ward issued a press release saying shortly after 3 p.m. last Wednesday, the sheriff’s office responded to an injury accident on U.S. Highway 54 involving a Seward County Fire Department truck and a commercial semi truck.

“Deputies determined the fire truck, operating with emergency lights and siren while responding to a fire call, was positioned in the turn lane to proceed north onto Arkalon Park Road,” Ward said. “The driver, identified as Morgan West of Liberal, believed she was making an incorrect turn and abruptly redirected the vehicle back onto Hwy. 54, crossing two lanes of traffic to travel south on Road R.”

Ward said a semi truck driven by Randhir Singh of Fresno, Calif., was traveling eastbound on the right shoulder of Hwy. 54 when it sideswiped the fire truck.

“The collision resulted in the complete removal and shredding of the fire truck’s front end, scattering debris across the roadway,” he said. “The semi sustained significant damage along the driver’s side and trailer.”

West, a firefighter with the SCFD, was transported to Southwest Medical Center with minor injuries and has since been released. She was cited for failure to wear a seat belt.

“The incident remains under investigation by the Seward County Sheriff’s office,” Ward said.