Published: Friday, October 28, 2005
Driver runs over Everett jogger
A 23-year fire department veteran is knocked off his feet in the incident.
EVERETT - A veteran Everett firefighter was run down while jogging Thursday in an apparent case of road rage, officials reported.
The firefighter, a captain with a 23-year history with the Everett Fire Department, was treated and released from Providence Everett Medical Center's Colby Campus.
He was knocked off his feet by an apparently enraged motorist, flew onto the windshield and then fell off the left side of the car, Everett Police Lt. Ted Olafson said. Police are searching for the suspect.
"It's an aberration, thankfully," Olafson said. "It's certainly a situation that could have had a very different outcome. His level of physical fitness as well as his size and weight were tremendously important factors in having a nontragic outcome here.
Olafson said if the firefighter were taller, he might have had worse injuries.
"This is an extremely lucky outcome, given what transpired," he said.
Police said the incident occurred like this:
About 4:40 p.m., two Everett firefighters were jogging near Fire Station No. 6, and as they ran north near an auto lube shop in the 9400 block of Evergreen Way they encountered a blue Mustang that was blocking the sidewalk. The Mustang had abruptly turned into the auto service business to turn around and go back onto Evergreen Way.
One of the firefighters tapped on the Mustang to let the driver know they were there so the driver wouldn't back into them, Olafson said.
The firefighters continued north past the lube shop and turned west down a private driveway.
The Mustang driver turned out of the lube shop and down the driveway heading toward the firefighters, and "accelerated very sharply," Olafson said.
"Frankly, he ran one of them down," he said.
The firefighters were running in regular jogging outfits, not firefighter attire, Olafson said.
The captain was struck, knocked off feet and onto the hood of the car and perhaps onto the windshield before falling off. The suspect fled the scene, Olafson said.
The other firefighter wasn't struck and called for help on a walkie-talkie radio.
The suspect's car was identified as a 1996 to 1998 Ford Mustang, electric blue, with a male driver. The car may have hood and windshield damage.
"He didn't realize the car was coming and didn't have enough time to get out of the way," Everett Fire Department Battalion Chief Roger Westlund said.
Westlund agreed that the fire captain was lucky to escape with minor injuries. He said the fire department would make accommodations to allow for the victim's injuries.
"We always take care of our own," Westlund said.
Assistant city editor Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3097 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
The firefighter, a captain with a 23-year history with the Everett Fire Department, was treated and released from Providence Everett Medical Center's Colby Campus.
He was knocked off his feet by an apparently enraged motorist, flew onto the windshield and then fell off the left side of the car, Everett Police Lt. Ted Olafson said. Police are searching for the suspect.
"It's an aberration, thankfully," Olafson said. "It's certainly a situation that could have had a very different outcome. His level of physical fitness as well as his size and weight were tremendously important factors in having a nontragic outcome here.
Olafson said if the firefighter were taller, he might have had worse injuries.
"This is an extremely lucky outcome, given what transpired," he said.
Police said the incident occurred like this:
About 4:40 p.m., two Everett firefighters were jogging near Fire Station No. 6, and as they ran north near an auto lube shop in the 9400 block of Evergreen Way they encountered a blue Mustang that was blocking the sidewalk. The Mustang had abruptly turned into the auto service business to turn around and go back onto Evergreen Way.
One of the firefighters tapped on the Mustang to let the driver know they were there so the driver wouldn't back into them, Olafson said.
The firefighters continued north past the lube shop and turned west down a private driveway.
The Mustang driver turned out of the lube shop and down the driveway heading toward the firefighters, and "accelerated very sharply," Olafson said.
"Frankly, he ran one of them down," he said.
The firefighters were running in regular jogging outfits, not firefighter attire, Olafson said.
The captain was struck, knocked off feet and onto the hood of the car and perhaps onto the windshield before falling off. The suspect fled the scene, Olafson said.
The other firefighter wasn't struck and called for help on a walkie-talkie radio.
The suspect's car was identified as a 1996 to 1998 Ford Mustang, electric blue, with a male driver. The car may have hood and windshield damage.
"He didn't realize the car was coming and didn't have enough time to get out of the way," Everett Fire Department Battalion Chief Roger Westlund said.
Westlund agreed that the fire captain was lucky to escape with minor injuries. He said the fire department would make accommodations to allow for the victim's injuries.
"We always take care of our own," Westlund said.
Assistant city editor Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3097 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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