The Riverside city firefighter who was struck by a car while extinguishing a brush fire on Monday, June 23, suffered a broken pelvis, according to the union that represents city firefighters.
Local 1067 officials said in a Facebook post that engineer Bart Kennedy has served the department for 30 years and was planning to retire this year.
“Bart was struck by a vehicle and pinned against the fire engine, suffering multiple pelvic fractures. He has a long road to recovery ahead,” the post says.
The union posted a link to a fundraiser on givebutter.com for expenses that are not already covered, such as travel for the family.
“Instead of celebrating his well-earned retirement, he and his family are now focused on his healing and rehabilitation,” the fundraising page says.
Kennedy was one of 29 firefighters who responded to the 2800 block of Canyon Springs Parkway just before 6 p.m. as a fire burned behind a Best Buy and along the eastbound 60 Freeway at Day Street near the Moreno Valley border. The fire engine was parked along the freeway, and Kennedy was at the pump controls when he and the fire engine were struck.
The driver of the car was not reported injured.
A California Highway Patrol spokesperson could not be reached this week to discuss the cause of the crash.
