Newark, NJ (March 8, 2026) – A vehicle collided with a firetruck responding to an early morning house fire in Newark, sending two people to the hospital and damaging multiple parked vehicles.
Authorities said firefighters were responding to a blaze at 17 Dover Street around 4:49 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, when a private vehicle struck a fire engine at the intersection of South 17th Street and Avon Avenue around 5:06 a.m. The collision caused the vehicle to flip and strike three unoccupied parked cars nearby.
Officials reported that the driver of the vehicle and one firefighter were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Earlier, four residents, including a child, had been hospitalized for smoke inhalation from the fire. A total of 18 people, including five children, were displaced by the fire.
Both the house fire and the collision remain under investigation.
Our thoughts are with those injured and the families affected by the fire.
Firetruck Safety During Emergency Responses
Collisions involving emergency vehicles can happen even when drivers are alert. Firetrucks and other responders often travel at higher speeds with lights and sirens active, requiring other motorists to yield immediately.
Drivers should remain alert at intersections and give emergency vehicles the right of way to prevent crashes. Even minor misjudgments in timing or distance can result in significant injuries or property damage.
