Water tender truck driver killed responding to fire in Napa Valley
In Napa County, California it was reported that a water tender driver was driving downhill this morning when the truck overturned around 6:50 a.m.
The truck driver did not survive the accident.
#BREAKING: Overturn crash kills driver of Cal Fire water tender truck in Napa County. https://t.co/jwSbz2zqS7 pic.twitter.com/LtaaEHGglB
— KPIX 5 (@CBSSF) October 16, 2017
The crash occurred on a steep grade on Highway 29 near Yountville. David Shew of Cal Fire said, “This (the Oakville Grade) is a very, very steep road. The Oakville Grade is the steepest road in Napa County.”
According to reports, the truck was attempting to make a slight curve with the roadway when the driver lost control. The truck flipped into the trees surrounding the road.
According to a CalFire spokesperson, after the driver lost control, the water tender truck crashed down an embankment, overturned and rolled to an upside down position. The driver has not been immediately identified.
The driver was a contract firefighter. During large fires like the ones currently raging in California, the fire service hires contract workers to do things like drive water tender trucks, operate bulldozers, and other types of large equipment.
Calfire: contractor assisting the #NunsFire killed in water tender crash. Not clear if driver was a firefighter or civilian. @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/Pl1unVqNEB
— Bob Redell (@BobNBC) October 16, 2017
The crash is still under investigation; however, authorities suspect that fatigue played a role in this accident.
#UPDATE: One person has died in the crash, according to officials.#BREAKING: A water tender working https://t.co/bppRvb6n89
— Bay Area Local News (@bayarealocaltv) October 16, 2017
With the fires that have been surging through Napa and Sonoma County, people are working as hard as they can to contain the flames.
At least forty people have died as a result of the fires.