NJ Fire Captain Charged with DWI of Ladder

Posted by: Curt Varone April 16, 2014 0

A New Jersey firefighter has been charged with drunk driving a ladder truck at 2 1/2 times the legal limit following an apparatus accident that sent one firefighter to the hospital.

Captain Russell Fenn IV of the Elmwood Park Fire Department was driving the department’s ladder back from a run when it crashed into several utility poles. A firefighter on board was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

According to Bergen County Police, Captain Fenn’s blood alcohol level was 2 ½ times time legal limit, and he was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and assault by automobile. The accident occurred around 1:15 am last Sunday morning.

Captain Fenn was released on his own recognizance.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved. | FireLawBlog.com & Curt Varone | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
x

Check Also

Michigan Fire Department Immune from Liability in Blocking Accident

The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that a fire department that uses apparatus to block traffic at an accident scene, is entitled to governmental immunity in the event that an errant driver strikes the vehicle. The decision reverses a trial court ruling that held that the motor-vehicle exception to governmental immunity applied to potentially expose the department to liability.

Who is Liable for Damages That Occur on Mutual Aid Responses in New York?

The New York Supreme Court for Dutchess County has ruled that a fire department that requests aid from a neighboring community is responsible to compensate that assisting department for damage that occurs to their apparatus, even though the apparatus has been released from the incident, and even though the damage was solely the result of negligence by its driver.