A traffic collision involving a Hillsborough County fire truck on the scene of an earlier vehicle crash sparked a traffic bottleneck on Interstate 4 at Branch Forbes Road for hours early Saturday, officials said.
The first incident began shortly after 7 a.m. when firefighter-paramedics rushed to a single-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of Interstate 4 just east of Branch Forbes Road, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesman Eric Seidel said in a statement.
A white Toyotoa Corolla appeared to have spun out of control and struck the median divider, disenabling the vehicle, the release said.
Just after the HCFR Fire Engine 26 arrived on the scene, a black Corolla collided into the rear of the fire engine, the release said. The driver of the black Corolla became trapped and had to be cut out of the car by firefighters.
The driver of the black Corolla was airlifted to an area hospital. His name and medical condition were unavailable.
The driver of the white Corolla received minor injuries.
No injuries were reported to the crew of Fire Engine 26.
The cause of the second accident is under investigation.
