N.Y. Fire Chief, Pedestrian Hurt in Crash

Jan. 04--An Elmont fire chief responding to a call and a pedestrian were hurt Thursday in a chain-reaction accident that started when another driver slammed into the chief's car, Nassau police said.

The chief was going west on Hempstead Turnpike near Hill Avenue when his fire department vehicle was hit by a car exiting a parking lot about 10:15 a.m., police said.

The fire vehicle veered across the turnpike toward the side of the road, where it hit a mailbox and a pole, police said.

During the crash, a pedestrian was struck and suffered a leg injury, police said, but it was unclear Thursday evening if the pedestrian was hit by the vehicle or the mailbox.

The pedestrian and the chief, who had minor injuries, were taken to a hospital, police said.

Names were not released and no other details on the crash were immediately available. The other driver was not injured and no charges were filed, police said.

A message left at the Elmont Fire Department was not immediately returned.

The chief was responding to a Jackson Avenue blaze, police said.

Copyright 2013 - Newsday