Firefighters pull for injured captain

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003 | 9:07 a.m.

Las Vegas firefighters have organized a candlelight vigil tonight in support of Capt. Thelonious Adams, 39, who remains in critical condition at University Medical Center's Trauma Center.

Adams suffered serious injuries late Friday night when the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue engine he was riding in rolled over on U.S. 95 at the Rainbow Boulevard exit.

"I can tell you he is in good spirits, but not much has changed," said Fire Capt. Bertral Washington, who was acting as a spokesman for Adams' family.

One of Adams' fellow firefighters said Adams suffered a broken neck and possibly a severed spinal cord, but hospital and fire officials will not confirm the extent of his injuries.

Preliminary reports from the Nevada Highway Patrol say firefighter John Delucchi was driving too fast for the curve's conditions, Trooper Angie Wolff said Tuesday. She added that it will be awhile before the Highway Patrol can finish its reports because of a lack of data on fire engines.

Delucchi and fellow passengers Thomas Cox and Brett Strong were treated for minor injuries and released from UMC, Highway Patrol officials said.

Adams and his crew were responding Fire Engine 6 to a call about smoke at an apartment complex off Rainbow Boulevard about 11:30 p.m. Friday. As Delucchi took the curved off-ramp for Rainbow, the engine rolled on its side and slid into a guard rail, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

The off-ramp posts an exit speed of 25 mph.

No other cars were involved in the accident, Szymanski said.

Deputy Fire Chief Rick Gracia said firefighter engineers go through intensive driver safety training and are taught that the right of way given to fire engines through the lights and sirens is a privilege.

"They don't have to speed to go to an emergency," Gracia said. "I know there is a misperception that they put on the lights and floor it, but that is not the case."

As with all drivers, no extent of driver training can prevent some accidents, Gracia said.

"The engineers know the dangers of speed, but that still doesn't always prevent accidents from happening," Gracia said.

Adams, a 13-year-veteran firefighter, came to Las Vegas from New Orleans, Washington said. Washington also added that Adams is currently working on his bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is a volunteer with the Boy Scouts.

The vigil for Adams will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot across the street from and to the east of the UMC Trauma Center.

Washington said many firefighters and Highway Patrol officers had expressed interest in attending the vigil to support Adams.