Authorities are investigating a deadly chain-reaction crash involving an FDNY ladder truck that occurred Tuesday evening in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn.
Police said Placido D'Andrea, 78, was a passenger in an Access-A-Ride van when the collision occurred at approximately 6:45 p.m. at the intersection of Avenue S and West 11th Street.
According to investigators, an FDNY Tower Ladder 149 truck struck a northbound commercial van before colliding head-on with the Access-A-Ride vehicle. The crash pushed the van into a Lexus that was traveling behind it.
D'Andrea died as a result of the crash. His wife, who was also inside the Access-A-Ride vehicle, was hospitalized.
Officials said six firefighters and several other people were injured in the incident, including the drivers of the commercial van, the Lexus, and the Access-A-Ride, as well as three other individuals. All were reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities said the ladder truck was being relocated to assist another fire company at an all-hands fire when the crash occurred. The FDNY is conducting an internal review as the investigation continues.