Marina
A statue honoring fallen firefighters in Kansas sustained significant damage after being struck by a vehicle early Wednesday morning.
Incident Details: How the Crash Unfolded
The accident occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. outside the Kansas Firefighters Museum, located in the 1300 block of S. Broadway in Wichita.
According to the Wichita Police Department, officers responding to the scene discovered a 39-year-old male driver who was breathing but unresponsive. Emergency medical personnel transported the man to a local hospital for treatment.
Driver Possibly Suffered Medical Emergency
Tod Newlin, President of the Kansas Firefighters Museum, shared additional details regarding the incident.
“Based on what we’ve learned, it appears the driver may have experienced a medical emergency, lost control of the vehicle, drove over the curb, and collided directly with our fallen firefighter memorial statue,” Newlin explained.
Car Jumped Curb, Struck Street Sign, Then Statue
Initial police investigations suggest that the vehicle was heading northbound when it left the roadway. After striking a street sign, the car proceeded to crash into the memorial statue.
The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
“We’re hopeful that the driver will recover,” Newlin added.
A History of the Statue and Prior Vandalism
This isn’t the first time the firefighter memorial statue has faced damage. In April, the statue was vandalized but was fortunately able to be cleaned and restored.
Newlin noted that the statue has stood proudly at the museum for approximately 23 to 24 years.
He emphasized the potential severity of the situation: “If the statue hadn’t been in place, the vehicle would likely have crashed straight into our museum building. That would have been catastrophic, especially since the structure is more than 115 years old.”
Summary Table of the Incident
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location of Crash | 1300 block of S. Broadway, Wichita, Kansas |
| Time of Crash | Around 2:30 a.m. |
| Involved Driver | 39-year-old man, breathing but unresponsive |
| Damage | Fallen Firefighter Memorial Statue |
| Suspected Cause | Possible medical emergency |
| Current Status of Investigation | Ongoing |
| Previous Incident | Vandalism in April (cleaned and restored) |
| Age of the Memorial Statue | 23 to 24 years |
| Age of Museum Building | Over 115 years |
The recent incident highlights the vulnerability of public memorials and underscores the importance of driver safety and medical awareness on the road.
While the Kansas Firefighters Memorial Statue sustained damage, it ultimately prevented the vehicle from causing even greater harm to the historic Kansas Firefighters Museum.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, and the community hopes for the driver’s full recovery.