Universal Hub - Kevin Kelley

Killer ladder truck had wrong brake parts, improper maintenance by unqualified firefighters

adamg — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:48:23 +0000

The Globe gets a look at a report by Boston Police homicide investigators into the truck that cost Lt. Kevin Kelley his life in January. The Suffolk County District Attorney's office concluded so many things went wrong but that no one person was criminally responsible for the truck's brakes failing on Parker Hill Avenue.

No criminal charges in fatal firetruck crash; DA blames crappy maintenance

adamg — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:19:08 +0000

Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley today blamed a poorly maintained firetruck and human error for the death of Boston Fire Lt. Kevin Kelley in January, but said nobody was criminally responsible for Ladder 26's fatal crash into a Huntington Avenue apartment complex.

Fire notes: Peterborough Street and Ladder 26

adamg — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:14:00 +0000

Fire officials say the Peterborough Street fire was probably caused by a short circuit in the ceiling of Thornton's and that the fatal crash of Ladder 26 was probably caused by brake failure.

Kevin Kelley saluted

adamg — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:10:23 +0000

Globe: Thousands gather for firefighter's funeral.

Fire Commissioner: We don't do enough to inspect trucks

adamg — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:51:36 +0000

The Globe reports on what has now become obvious after three incidents - one fatal - over the past few days. Keep reading the story to see how maintenance is, naturally, a football between the city and the firefighters union, with each blaming the other for the problem.

The Herald, meanwhile, talks to a friend of Lt. Kelley's widow, who thinks the accident was preventable and interviews a mechanic who helped inspect Ladder 26 last year about the potential for "icing" problems in the brake lines.

'Frantically pumping the brakes'

adamg — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:19:44 +0000

The Globe reports it's looking more and more like Kevin Kelley died because the brakes on Ladder 26 failed on steep Parker Hill Avenue.

The Herald talks to some of the kids in a computer class when the firetruck smashed into their building.