A Phoenix fire captain who suffered prolific injuries in an on-duty accident almost 8 years ago died Saturday after "amazing display of courage," fire officials say.
"This is really a difficult day for us because it marks the end of a 7 or 8-year battle," says Phoenix Fire Capt. P.J. Dean.
On Aug. 10, 2009, Crystal Rezzonico, who was aboard Engine 910 traveling near Interstate 17 and the Dunlap overpass, was ejected after a car slammed into the fire engine that was responding to an emergency call. "This was a horrible accident, that fire truck was struck by a vehicle traveling almost 70 miles per hour, Crystal was ejected from her front right seat, where the Captain sits and thrown a great distance into a concrete median, head first," says Capt. Dean