HAZELGREEN, Mo. (Dec. 6, 2011) — An early Sunday morning crash injured six firefighters, according to Capt. Ann Price of the Hazelgreen Rural Fire Protection District. Missouri State Highway Patrol reports indicate that the wreck happened on Randolph Road about 1.1 miles west of Rambling Lane when Darren J. Strong, 36, of Richland, was driving a 1980 Pierce-White fire truck westbound ran off the right side of the roadway at 1:10 a.m., and high-centered on the ditchline. The fire truck sustained only minor damage and was able to be driven from the scene, but Joseph E. Gerber, 19, and Steven R. Heath, 39, both of Richland, suffered moderate injuries. Hazelgreen said Strong was injured but refused medical treatment. Amber William, 24, of Richland, and Jerimiah Wright, 22, of Laquey, assessed the medical situations of fellow firefighters in the ambulance and received medical care when they arrived at the hospital; Michael Beasley, 28, of Laquey, was also hurt. Price said all firefighters suffered moderate injuries. In unrelated incidents, state troopers arrested Bennie L. Hudson, 23, of Fort Leonard Wood, Abigail R. Laufenberg, 20, of Kaiser, Chassity J. Burton, 36, of Richland, and Kevin P. Doyle, 29, of St. Robert, on charges including drunk driving.
Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...By Darrell Todd Maurina
