In May of 2015, citizens of Hays County Emergency Services District 2 passed a property tax referendum raising the property tax from three cents per $100 evaluation to five cents per $100 evaluation to improve the EMS service in Buda and surrounding areas.

“This was one of the first projects on that package. This unit actually replaced a 2009 EMS unit that we had here in service. Our plan is to continue that process by adding more EMS units and staff,” said Buda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby.

The new unit is a brand new 2016 ambulance stocked and customized just for their needs. The addition brings their fleet up to four, three of which are staffed full time.

“It has everything we need, and anything everybody wanted is in here,” said firefighter Roger Dean.

In just six years the amount of calls the department responds to has doubled. The department has grown their number of fire stations, but have struggled to keep up with the growing population.

The fire engine was side-swipped by an 18-wheeler and it spun around, according to police officers on the scene. The fire engine had extensive damage.

Police on the scene said the motorocycle driver was taken to the hospital. Injuries did not appear to be serious.

Authorities said the fire truck was parked behind another emergency vehicle at the scene of a separate crash on northbound I-35W when a man driving a pickup truck collided with the fire truck.

The pickup truck driver was pinned in his vehicle after the crash. Firefighters said they rescued him and transported him to a hospital. His condition was not released.