Steven Brooks, a member of the Palm Coast Fire Police, was injured at a crash scene Tuesday on Seminole Woods Blvd. Brooks was working to direct traffic away from the accident when, according to Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill, he was struck by a vehicle and critically injured.
In the minutes following the accident, Brooks was airlifted by the Flagler County FireFlight helicopter to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, the nearest trauma center to Flagler County. According to Chief Berryhill, Brooks is still hospitalized in critical but stable condition as of Wednesday morning.
The crash Brooks was working at happened at around 4:57 pm on Tuesday, when a car and motorized scooter collided at Seminole Woods Blvd and Seminole Woods Blvd in Palm Coast. A number of units responded, including Palm Coast Fire Department Engine 29, Flagler County Fire Rescue, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Highway Patrol.
Brooks’ job with the Palm Coast Fire Police was to help ensure the safety of those involved in the accident and of the first responders as the situation unfolds next to a busy road. “They are there to protect the responders,” Berryhill said Wednesday, speaking fondly of Brooks’ service.
At approximately 5:24 pm, Brooks was struck by a vehicle traveling on Seminole Woods. The accident happened in one of the more convenient locations, as first responders immediately began to treat his injuries as well. The driver of the vehicle that hit Brooks remained on-scene and spoke to Florida Highway Patrol personnel, according to Berryhill.
In expanding upon the nature of the strike, Berryhill speculated that the position of the sun at that time of day could’ve likely played a role in reducing the visibility for drivers traveling southwest on Seminole Woods, as this driver was. He took the leap to say the sun likely played a role in the incident, and though he deferred definitive comment to FHP, he said he did not believe criminal charges were likely.
Brooks is awake and alert, and is being treated for four broken bones and some internal injuries. Still, his fellow first responders are optimistic about his eventual recovery. “There’s a ton of hope about Steven’s condition,” Berryhill said. “We’re really lucky to have members like [him].”
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
