Fire trucks collide while responding to emergency call

A pair of fire trucks collided at a Monterey Park intersection Wednesday, sending one of the them careening into a restaurant, injuring 15 people, one critically.

A Monterey Park Fire Department truck wound up largely inside the Lu Dumpling House at the corner of Emerson and Garfield avenues.

The truck had apparently collided with an Alhambra Fire Department ladder truck.

The crews in both trucks were heading to the scene of a house fire in southern Monterey Park when the collision occurred at 3:15 p.m., Monterey Park Fire Department Chief Jim Birrell said.

Six firefighters sustained minor to moderate injuries and eight people had minor injuries, authorities said.

It was unclear what caused the vehicles to collide, California Highway Patrol Officer Martin Vasquez said.

“Something went wrong today,“ Alhambra Fire Department Chief Bill Walker said in a broadcast interview. “We will figure that out.”

Monterey Park Fire Department Engine 61 was removed from the restaurant around 9 p.m., Monterey Park Police Department Sgt. Art Rousseau said.