Medical condition reported cause of Spring Hill Fire crash

An undisclosed medical emergency caused a five-ton fire engine to destroy two fences and damage a house Wednesday afternoon within 100 yards of the nearest station, deputies said.

The firefighter was not responding to a medical emergency. He was suffering from one, said Spring Hill Fire Chief Mike Rampino.

An accident report by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office showed the driver was Christopher J. Bozek, 29, of Spring Hill.

Rampino said Bozek was administered a drug test at the hospital and was released later in the day. Federal law prohibits his employer from disclosing the nature of his medical condition.

Residents in the neighborhood where the accident took place said they were told by firefighters at the scene the driver had suffered a seizure.

Men and women with existing medical conditions that make them prone to seizures are not eligible to work at the district as a firefighter/paramedic, the chief said.

"It was an accident," said Rampino. "Thankfully, the driver and citizens were not injured. Property can be fixed."

The Spring Hill Fire Rescue District is conducting its own investigation and its report was expected to be released late Thursday.

Shortly after 4 p.m., Bozek was backing the fire engine along Trenton Avenue in an attempt to turn around, according to the sheriff's office.

He suffered an "unknown medical issue" and lost control of the vehicle, deputies said.

It rolled over some bushes at 6100 Raleigh St. and the drove onto the front yard of the house across the street, according to the accident report.

Bozek continued in reverse and backed the engine over a chain-link fence at 1459 Trenton Ave., deputies said.

The engine crossed over Raleigh and struck another plastic fence along the south side of the street before it backed into the house at 6092 Raleigh St, according to the report.

Eyewitnesses said there were astonished at the sight of uprooted fences and tire marks on the grass. No vehicles were struck during the accident, authorities said.

Rampino said Bozek, whose been employed with the fire district for roughly six years, was in the middle of "hose evolutions," which is a drill that requires the driver to position a fire engine to make a connection with a fire hydrant, he said.

Bozek was the only one in the vehicle, according to the report.

Rampino said standard driving maneuvers are conducted in an empty parking lot along U.S. 19, but the hydrant drills take place near the fire station at 1479 Parker Ave.

Dispatch had not been notified of the drill until after the accident, but Rampino said that was typical. The station is in proximity from where the accident took place, which meant the engine was still "within quarters," he said.

Rampino also said the engine never exceeded 12 mph during the short drive from the station.

Adjusters from VFIS Insurance were reviewing the property and vehicle damage caused by the accident as of Thursday afternoon.