Gail Rippel, 85, died following a three-vehicle crash involving a Livingston Parish (LA) fire truck, reports TheAdvocate.com.

The Denham Springs resident was heading south on Pete’s Highway Sunday morning when an apparatus from Fire Protection District No. 5 in the northbound lane crashed into the rear of a trailer. The two vehicles crossed the centerline, colliding with Rippel’s car.

Officials say that the apparatus was driving the speed limit at the time of the crash. They add that the driver of a fourth car tried to make a left turn into the northbound lane of the highway in front of a vehicle towing a trailer, which sandwiched the trailer-towing vehicle between the engine and the turning car.

Rippel died after being taken to a hospital, officials say. Cody Kahl, the driver of the truck, was also taken to the hospital but was released. He underwent a routine toxicology report at the hospital, although officials say impairment is not suspected as a factor in the crash. The third driver, Louis Constanza Jr. of Albany, eschewed medical attention at the scene.

Denham Springs Police is investigating the incident. And Kahl is on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation, though that’s more to give the 23-year-old time to clear his head as opposed to punishment.

Alexis—Sugar Creek Fire Department, West Terre Haute, IN, top-mount pumper. Spartan Metro Star MFD cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale DSD 1,500-gpm, pump; 750-gallon polypropylene water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2001 single-agent foam system; Darley CAFS system; TecNiq warning light package; TFT Crossfire monitor package. Dealer: Jason Cree, Alexis Fire Equipment, Alexis, IL.

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Construction of two permanent fire stations continues underway for Queen Creek, reports YourValley.net.

The town currently has five fire stations. The two, new stations are identical in design and square footage. The new fire stations will be about 13,300 square feet total.

The new buildings will be divided into three sections. The first section will increase the capacity for the number of firefighters to 10. The second portion of the stations will have three apparatus bays. A third section will include turnout storage, laundry facilities, a small storage room, work room and station gyms.

The budget for Station No. 2 is $8.5 million and for Station No. 5 it is $9.1 million. The fire chief said he expects more stations to come online as Queen Creek grows and response-time goals must be met.

A Nacogdoches Fire Department ladder truck crashed into a crosswalk signal pole and a streetlight pole after evasive action to avoid hitting a car, reports KLTV 7.

The city posted to Facebook, “The Nacogdoches Fire Department Ladder Truck was traveling Eastbound on Austin Street to assist on a medical call when a 2006 Black Sedan was stopped at the red light then proceeded to enter the intersection to cross once the light turned green. The Fire Engine was approaching with lights and sirens on when the Sedan entered the intersection. The driver of the Fire Engine took an evasive maneuver to avoid collision with the Sedan which resulted in the truck steering off the highway. The driver of the Fire Engine proceeded to collide with an electrical crosswalk signal pole and a street light pole causing significant damage to the truck. The 87 year old driver of the black sedan claims he did not hear the engine’s siren when he went to cross the intersection causing the engine to collide with the signal pole and street light. All parties are accounted for and there were no significant injuries at the scene.”