A driver was seriously hurt when a San Diego Fire-Rescue engine responding to an emergency call collided with a vehicle in City Heights on Wednesday, authorities said.
The maroon sedan was heading southbound at the time of the crash, exiting Interstate 15 at 40th Street and University Avenue at about 10:20 a.m.
The fire engine was traveling westbound on 40th on the way to a fuel spill with lights and sirens on, according to Battalion Chief David Picone.
Officials said the two vehicles collided in the middle of the intersection.
The fire crews immediately jumped into action, Picone said, "helping out the people in the car to get them their medical treatment."
The driver of the car was transported to Mercy Hospital with serious injuries, according to initial reports.
A female passenger in the car suffered what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. She was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance.
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No firefighters were hurt.
"The guys are kinda shaken up right now. They’re just hoping everyone is OK," said Picone.
California Highway Patrol has closed the soutbound I-15 off-ramp to University Avenue, according to spokesperson Robert Catano.
A Sig Alert was issued for University Avenue between 39th and 40th.
Staff members at the Health Sciences High and Middle College on University Avenue heard the sirens and ran outside the school to see what had happened, according to the principal.
She told NBC 7 all of her students were inside at the time of the crash.
No other information was immediately available.
This isn't the first time a fire truck or engine has been involved in a crash. This map highlights traffic collisions between 2005 and 2014.
