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One Firefighter Injured After Crash Involving Wheeling Fire Engine

WHEELING -- At least one firefighter was injured after a tow truck crashed into a Wheeling Fire Engine on the 26th Street northbound off-ramp from I-470 Friday afternoon.

According to dispatchers, a tow truck crashed into Engine 2 from the Wheeling Fire Department when they were on I-470 westbound near exit 2 around 3:50 p.m., causing a temporary traffic backup when the fire engine was hit by a tow truck towing an Appalachian Electric Power (AEP) vehicle.

Philip Stahl, Wheeling Fire's public information officer, confirmed a department vehicle was involved in a crash and a firefighter was injured and in stable condition at Wheeling Hospital.

Erikka Storch, AEP’s external affairs manager, confirmed one of their trucks was being towed back to their building in South Wheeling.

Wheeling Police requested state police respond to the crash, as they said they could not investigate due to the circumstances of the accident. West Virginia State Police are currently investigating the crash.

The AEP truck was not otherwise involved with the crash and was towed away by a different tow truck around 6:57 p.m.

West Virginia State Police did not respond to a request for comment.