ATLANTA — An Atlanta firefighter is in surgery after a car hit him as the department responded to an accident.
The accident shut down all lanes of Interstate 85 at Cleveland Avenue for hours. Triple Team Traffic reported the injury crash around 7:45 a.m. and the lanes reopened before 10 a.m.
Officials confirmed to Channel 2's Christian Jennings that the firefighter was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. The 47-year-old sergeant has not been identified.
Atlanta Fire Chief Randall Slaughter told Jennings the firefighter is a father and seven-year veteran of the department.
"Currently, the firefighter is very, very serious but stable condition. He did suffer extensive injuries to lower extremities. It has been a difficult day for us," Slaughter said.
An Atlanta firefighter was seriously injured in a crash on I-85 NB this morning at Cleveland Ave. All NB lanes are closed. pic.twitter.com/WJ8O4HOu2z
— Christian Jennings (@CJenningsWSB) May 12, 2019
RED ALERT!!! All lanes blocked on I-85/nb at Cleveland Ave with an injury crash. https://t.co/YULjFukFkK #ATLTraffic pic.twitter.com/beOAC8VHKW
— Triple Team Traffic (@WSBTraffic) May 12, 2019
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Atlanta police told Channel 2 Action News the fire department was responding to a rollover collision on I-85.
When the firefighter was exiting the driver's side of the engine, another car hydroplaned into him. There were no significant injuries reported in the original crash.
"Working these vehicle accidents on the interstate is very dangerous. I just want to remind the public to be very cautious when you see these emergency responders working on the interstate," Slaughter said.
The driver is in custody and police say they expect charges to be filed.
Cox Media Group
