Broken Drive Shaft Strands Philadelphia Fire Truck En Route To Call
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- While en route to a service call Friday, the drive shaft of a Philadelphia fire truck broke off, stranding firefighters and the truck for several hours.
Philadelphia fire truck Engine 69, based in the 8200 block of Tinicum Avenue, was responding to a call at about 9:30 a.m. Friday.
While driving, the drive shaft of the engine flew out of the truck at Island Avenue and Lindbergh Boulevard in Southwest Philadelphia.
The truck was left un-driveable and the firefighters were forced out of service and had to stay with the truck.
It took three tries before the right tow truck was brought to the scene. The first two were too small to tow the fire truck.
The fire truck was finally towed away at about noon.
Fortunately, the service call ended up not being of the serious nature.
The fire truck, which was put into service with the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1991, has over 119,000 miles on the odometer. The front numbers on the truck are duct-taped on.
In May of this year, Eyewitness News reporter Matt Rivers documented concerns that have been raised about the city's emergency vehicles, which include fire trucks and ambulances.
Friday's breakdown remains under investigation.
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