{"id":240,"date":"2009-06-19T20:05:34","date_gmt":"2009-06-20T00:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/firefightersfund.org\/?p=240"},"modified":"2010-09-01T20:06:37","modified_gmt":"2010-09-02T00:06:37","slug":"firefighter-friday-jessica-locke-on-runaway-engine-13-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/firefightersfund.org\/?p=240","title":{"rendered":"Firefighter Friday: Jessica Locke on Runaway Engine 13 (part two)"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Boston Globe)<\/span><\/h3>\n

ENGINE 13 REPORT DEFIES COMMON SENSE<\/p>\n

Recently released video of the investigation into Engine 13 casts serious doubt on the report issued by Jack Laine of AJL Associates, which claimed human error on the part of the driver. The accident \u2013 which took place on May 15, 2007 \u2013 severely injured Lt. Rich Geary when the truck took off under its own power, running him over.<\/p>\n

The report by AJL states:\u00a0\u00a0\u201c{Engine 13} was indeed in the \u201cRoad position\u201d otherwise the truck under discussion, also known as engine #13 would not have moved.\u00a0 In our opinion, human error is the major underlining factor in this accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, there is no explanation of the \u201chuman error\u201d in the report.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Though Laine never comes out and says it, the crucial point of his conclusion centers around the green indicator lights in the cab: Did the driver put the pump shift lever into the correct position, which turns the lights on\u2026or not?\u00a0<\/p>\n

The video clearly shows the truck malfunctioning. With the pump shift lever in the correct position, the green lights illuminate even though the truck transmission fails to \u201clock up\u201d to produce water pressure.\u00a0 This is what the driver stated happened the night of the accident, and what was witnessed by Lt. Rich Geary prior to the accident.\u00a0 In addition, State Police photos taken the night of the accident show that the pump shift lever is in the correct position.<\/p>\n

(The Police Report erroneously stated that the green light was a warning sign to the driver that he was in the wrong gear, and blamed the driver for ignoring it, thus their conclusion of \u201chuman error\u201d.)<\/p>\n

In an interview after the reports came out, Laine was asked directly what the driver did.\u00a0 Laine replied, \u201cHe made a mistake.\u201d\u00a0 When asked what that mistake was, he said, \u201cI don\u2019t know what he did.\u201d\u00a0 In another interview with a TAB reporter, Laine said, \u201cHe had a lapse of judgment.\u201d Laine offered no further information as to the driver\u2019s actions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the video, Laine is shown agreeing with Ralph Craven (the investigator hired by the Newton Firefighters Association), that there were numerous mechanical problems with the apparatus. Laine goes so far as to say in reference to Engine 13,\u00a0 \u201cit did not make the shift\u201d and \u201cthere is an issue with the system\u201d.\u00a0 There is no reference to driver error.<\/p>\n

\u00a0On camera, Laine suggests the possibility the gear malfunctions were caused by the towing of the rig out from the embankment after the night of the accident.\u00a0 However, he is immediately refuted by Mr. Craven , who informed Laine that the apparatus suffered the same mechanical defects prior to the incident and were reported by two separate drivers.\u00a0 Laine responds: \u201cI haven\u2019t talked to anybody at the scene with any of that information.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Laine never interviewed the driver.\u00a0 Further, according to Ralph Craven, Laine never did any of his own tests on the pump transmission. Witnesses at the scene of the investigation stated that Mr. Craven was \u201crunning the show\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Laine said in an interview with the TAB that he stood by the cab while Mr. Craven was underneath the engine.\u00a0 However, in that same interview he said that he did not see anyone, including Craven, conduct an inspection to verify the unaligned gears.<\/p>\n

\u00a0This is an erroneous statement, as Mr. Craven was not only taking measurements of the unaligned gears, but Laine referenced Mr. Craven\u2019s measurements in his own report.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Laine\u2019s report indicated that Engine 13 should have been taken out of service because of mechanical issues.\u00a0 It also recommended that the vehicle be decommissioned, because it did not meet applicable National Fire Protection Association Standards.<\/p>\n

Laine was paid $1855.95\u00a0 by the City of Newton for his investigation.<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Boston Globe) ENGINE 13 REPORT DEFIES COMMON SENSE Recently released video of the investigation into Engine 13 casts serious doubt on the report issued by Jack Laine of AJL Associates, which claimed human error on the part of the driver. The accident \u2013 which took place on May 15, 2007 \u2013 severely injured Lt. Rich … <\/p>\n

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