Radio traffic after firefighter struck on I-94 in Minnesota. Clearwater Fire & Rescue's Cory Broich recovering from injuries.
Article by Karie Petrie, St. Cloud Times:
A Clearwater firefighter responding to a vehicle fire on Interstate Highway 94 was struck by a vehicle Tuesday morning.
The eastbound lanes of the interstate were closed for nearly three hours.
The collision happened at 7:17 a.m. west of Clearwater. A vehicle traveling east hit 28-year-old Cory Broich and a Clearwater fire truck, according to the State Patrol.
Broich was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital in critical condition.
The driver of the striking vehicle was Deborah A. Symalla, 43, of Cold Spring. She was taken to St. Cloud Hospital where she was treated and released, according to the patrol.
The interstate was closed shortly after the crash and reopened shortly before 11 a.m.
Clearwater Fire Chief Doug Nieters said Broich, of Clearwater, has been a firefighter for five years. Nieters said the fire crew was finishing up with the vehicle fire call when the crash occurred.
The fire department had two fire trucks on scene when Broich was hit. Another fire truck was brought to the scene after the collision.
Ashly Madson is Broich’s sister-in-law. She said Broich and his wife Abigail have five children under the age of 8.
Madson said Broich has broken both legs, but did not suffer a head injury. He is awake and talking to his wife, she said.
“He’s doing as well as he can be,” she said.
