Orange County Firefighter hurt in major crash

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - An accident scene was made even worse Sunday morning after a driver plowed through the accident scene injuring six people. The crash happened on Colonial Drive and Deer Isle Drive in West Orange County.

Emergency crews were loading a motorcyclist into an ambulance after he collided with a car. Lt. Mark Smothers with Orange County Fire and Rescue said the crews were working with their fire engine parked in a fend off position which provides crews with protection from passing vehicles, but a motorist decided to drive around that blockade.

"A white car went around the fire truck, realized they were in the wrong lane and then made an abrupt maneuver. When they made the turn they turned into a group of people on the side of the road," said Chief Tim Driskell with Oakland Police.

The people struck were riding in the same pack of motorcycles with the man originally involved in the first accident. The car also hit Orange County Firefighter, Chad Lowery who was tending to the first victim.

"There's no reason why they can't do their job safely," said Chief Driskell. Seven patients in all were taken to area hospitals; one from the first crash and six from the second, including four motorcyclists, the firefighter and the driver of the car in question.

Four of the victims were listed as trauma alerts and two were flown to ORMC. The others were taken by ground to various hospitals.

There is a Move Over law in the state which requires drivers to move over and away from stopped emergency vehicles and slow down. The Orange County Fire Chief says all drivers should know this law to prevent further accidents.

Fire and Rescue officials say the injured fire fighter has serious injuries and is in stable condition at ORMC. No information has been released about charges in this crash or the names and conditions of the other victims.