23 October 2019

Fire truck was responding to fire alarm before fatal accident

| Lachlan Roberts
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Fatality at Barton

It was the fifth fatality on the ACT roads this year. Photo: George Tsotsos.

The ESA has broken its silence on the fatal accident in Barton on Monday afternoon, with ESA Commissioner Georgeina Whelan admitting that the fire truck involved in the accident was responding to a fire alarm.

At around 2:09 pm on Monday, emergency services were called to the intersection of Bowen Drive and Brisbane Avenue in Barton after reports of a car accident. The woman, who was the sole occupant of the car, was cut from the vehicle and treated at the scene by ACT Ambulance paramedics.

She was taken to hospital but died a short time later as a result of her injuries.

ACT Policing has not revealed the identity of the woman but said she was 59-years-old and lived in New South Wales.

Commissioner Whelan said the ESA is cooperating with ACT Policing in its investigation but said she would not comment on the investigation.

She extended the ESA’s deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and friends, and also thoughts to the emergency services personnel who attended the scene.

“Last night and in the coming days, the ESA will continue to provide support to our first responders involved in the incident as well as support staff,” Ms Whelan said in a statement. “The range of support that has been and will continue to be provided includes our peer support program, access to our agency chaplains as well as the employee assistance scheme.

“Most importantly, our leadership team will continue to make themselves available to anyone who requires assistance or who needs to have a chat.”

ACT Policing’s Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Team is investigating the circumstances of the collision. Worksafe ACT is supporting ACT Policing with the investigation.

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