An Atlanta firefighter was severely injured when he was struck by a vehicle along Interstate 85 northbound near Cleveland Avenue Sunday morning.
The firefighter was part of a crew from Fire Station #2 responding to a rollover wreck on the interstate and was stepping off of a fire engine when he was struck by another vehicle, according to Atlanta Fire Chief Randall Slaughter.
The incident happened at about 7:30 a.m.
Slaughter, speaking to reporters outside of Grady Memorial Hospital on Sunday morning, said the firefighter, a 47-year-old, seven-year veteran sergeant with the department, was in very, very serious condition but stable and in surgery with serious injuries to his lower extremities.
"This is a difficult day for us as firefighters and for me as chief," Slaughter said.
He said the situation was one that could have very easily could have resulted in a fatality.