Baker County firefighters faced multiple equipment failures at the scene of a fiery fatal crash on Saturday.
The car crashed into a tree and burst into flames on I-10 near mile marker 317, leaving four people dead and two children in critical condition.
Three people were still trapped inside as firefighters struggled with malfunctioning equipment.
“It was just like, what in the world just happened?” said witness Buddy Todd.
Todd helped pull three children out of the burning car, but wasn't able to get to the three adults inside.
He said the firefighters’ equipment problems began right when they pulled up..
“The truck continued to roll until it actually collided with the vehicle that was on fire with the people inside of it,” said Todd.
Baker County Fire Chief Steve Marfongella said the truck’s parking brake failed, but denies it hit the car.
Marfongella said the brake system has now been repaired.
Todd also said firefighters struggled to get their hose to work.
Marfongella said there was an air bubble in the pump, but firefighters were able to remove it by priming the pump.
Marfongella said the equipment failures caused, at most, two minutes in lost time.
“At that point, I really don’t think that there was any hope for them because the car had been completely engulfed in flames for some time prior to their arrival,” said Todd.
Now Todd said it’s the children who are in his thoughts. Only two of the three kids he helped pull out of the burning car survived.
“I just really would like to know how the children are doing,” said Todd.
Florida Highway Patrol has not named any of the six people involved in the crash.
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#Exclusive #ANJaxInvestigates at 5:30: #BakerCounty firefighters had multiple equipment failures @ fiery fatal crash pic.twitter.com/zoX1Q811RG
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) May 16, 2016
#BakerCounty Fire Chief says this truck's parking brake failed @ scene of fiery, fatal crash. 5:30 on @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/lxk7N5FCrv
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) May 16, 2016
#BakerCounty Fire Chief says hose also malfunctioned at fiery crash where 4 died, 2 kids injured. Watch CBS47 5:30 pic.twitter.com/GNPu3jNZZT
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) May 16, 2016
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