Sponsored by
Driver died after fire engine smash
AN ALBANIAN man was killed after he lost control of his car on a bend and it hit a fire engine heading to an emergency call, an inquest heard.
Damir Kalleshi, also known as Ilir Isufi, was behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta as it crossed the carriageway and ploughed into the Herstmonceux fire engine on the A271 at Magham Down around 7.40pm on November 2 last year.
Chef Mr Kalleshi, 29, from Hyland Green, Hailsham, died instantly. The driver of the fire engine, Ian Harris, sustained minor injuries.
Mr Harris told yesterday's inquest in Eastbourne the fire engine 'took off' briefly and its momentum carried the Ford back across the road before both vehicles came to rest in trees.
Crash investigator PC Adrian Short said he believed the collision was caused by Mr Kalleshi underestimating the bend.
He said skid marks left behind on the road suggested Mr Kalleshi had slammed hard on the brakes, causing the wheels to lock up, and had steered away from the bend, sending the car across the road and into the path of the fire engine.
No defects were found on either vehicle and PC Short said Mr Harris was driving in 'nothing other than a proper manner'.
Witnesses to the crash told the inquest neither the Ford Fiesta or the fire engine were travelling at over the 60mph speed limit.
The fire engine was believed to be en route to a fire at the Maurice Thornton playing field when the crash happened. Firefighters from Hailsham later contained and put out the blaze.
John Message, watch manager at Herstmonceux fire station, was in the front passenger seat of the fire engine when the crash occurred.
He told the inquest, "I told the driver there was some lights headed straight for us. I shouted 'look out!' but that's all I had the chance to say."
Mr Harris, behind the wheel of the fire engine, described the crash.
He said, "As he hit us it felt like we took off. Once you're airborne, there's nothing you can do about it.
"As we took off it (the fire engine) sort of went off to the right, still slightly in the air."
Toxicologist Dr Peter Sharp said there was no trace of drugs or alcohol in Mr Kalleshi's body.
Coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of death by road traffic accident. He said, "This is a tragic accident. "The driver of the fire engine has done nothing wrong."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
