Four Langston firefighters were injured Thursday night in a head-on collision while returning home from assisting tornado victims in Enid. One firefighter remains hospitalized.
According to officials, the crash occurred around 11:55 p.m. as the crew was heading back from a Logan County task force deployment. The fire truck, Quint 7, which was a recent purchase from the department, was struck head-on by a semi-truck and then hit by another vehicle, leaving all four firefighters injured and the apparatus a total loss.
Fire Chief Bobby Anderson, Assistant Chief Brian Orndorff, Captain Jay Bartels, and firefighter Eric Abrams were all on board at the time of the crash. Both chiefs were transported to Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City. Assistant Chief Orndorff has since been released, while Chief Anderson remains hospitalized. Bartels and Abrams suffered minor injuries and are being evaluated as a precaution.
The firefighters had traveled to Enid earlier in the day to assist fellow departments and residents impacted by a tornado. Capt. Robert Rogers said the decision to respond was rooted in the fire service’s commitment to helping others in need.
Despite the severity of the crash, department members expressed gratitude that the situation was not worse.
Anderson, who remains in intensive care as of Sunday, is expected to miss significant time from work during his recovery. A GoFundMe has been established to assist him and his family with expenses during that time.
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