NEWKIRK, OK — A harrowing incident unfolded Friday afternoon as first responders battled a raging fire amid dangerous winds and dust storms across the state. The situation took a terrifying turn when an ambulance crew, on its way back from dropping off a patient, got caught in a dust storm and was struck by another car and a semi-truck.
According to Adam Longcrier, Fire Chief of the Newkirk Fire Department, visibility in the area had dropped to just a few feet as the crew was navigating the storm. Longcrier recalls his growing concern when he couldn’t reach the ambulance crew on the radio. “When we couldn’t get to them on the radio, I knew it was them,” Longcrier said. “They were probably in that dust storm probably three or four seconds before the accident happened.”
The collision occurred as the ambulance was traveling in the dense dust storm, which significantly hindered the ability of drivers to see the road. The crash left two members of the Newkirk Fire Department’s ambulance crew injured, though fortunately, both escaped with only minor injuries.
Tabron Stanton, an EMT and passenger in the ambulance, suffered a concussion and short-term amnesia as a result of the crash. “I don’t remember much or… really I don’t remember anything,” Stanton admitted. Despite his memory loss, the images of the crash’s aftermath remain vivid in his mind. “It’s definitely a tear jerker when you first look at it and you’re like… man… it’s really impressive you walked out of that,” Stanton said.
The crash occurred while other first responders from the Newkirk Fire Department were en route to fight a fire. As Longcrier and his team arrived at the accident scene, the grim realization hit that the victims were members of their own crew. “When I got there, like I said, it was fear,” Longcrier explained. “You never expect to be in that situation with your own team.”
Despite the shocking circumstances, the two injured responders were fortunate to avoid life-threatening injuries. Stanton’s emotional reflection serves as a reminder of the risks that first responders face on a daily basis. For those who dedicate their lives to helping others, incidents like these bring into sharp focus just how dangerous their work can be.
The crash, caused by the combination of extreme weather and low visibility, highlights the unpredictable dangers that first responders often face in the line of duty. The Newkirk Fire Department, while shaken, is thankful that their crew made it out alive.
