Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
The City of Victoria, Texas has settled a lawsuit arising out of a fatal fire department ambulance accident for $500,000. The accident occurred on May 5, 2022 when the ambulance with three firefighters on board collided with a civilian vehicle containing Frank and Betty Roeder.
The crash sent the ambulance into a pond and resulted in the death of Frank Roeder. A Texas Department of Public Safety investigation concluded the ambulance was traveling at an excessive speed, executed a “faulty maneuver,” and recommended that the driver be charged criminally. A Victoria County grand jury refused to indict the firefighter-driver, 28, on vehicular homicide, criminally negligent homicide, or aggravated assault.
The ambulance ended up submerged in the pond, but the firefighters were able to escape before it sank. The $500,000 settlement is the maximum allowable under the state’s tort claims act. According to CrossroadsToday.com, the Roeder family released the following statement:
- “It is our sincere hope as a family that the loss of our loving father, Frank, and the life-long injuries sustained by our mother, Betty, will not be in vain. We are fortunate and relieved to know that the original findings of fault against Frank were inaccurate and our father has been cleared by an independent investigation performed by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
- We trust that the facts from the investigation will serve as a catalyst for additional training and review of policies and procedures to ensure the safety of all citizens of Victoria. Our wish is that no family will have to endure the ongoing pain and loss of a loved one due to such a preventable tragedy.”
