Fire Battalion Chief Crashes Vehicle Near Brooks

Chief Kevin Henson was transported to the Salem Hospital following the crash...

Fire vehicle crash photo by Joy Graves for Salem-News.com

(BROOKS, Ore.) - Investigators say Marion County's Fire Chief, 44-year old J. Kevin Henson, was involved in a serious crash Friday while enroute to a fire on Brooklake Road with his emergency equipment activated.

The Chief was heading to a structure fire at a business in the 3500 block of Brooklake Road NE, traveling westbound, when a vehicle he was passing turned left into his path.

Marion County Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene at 11:37 a.m., Friday located half a mile west of Interstate 5.

Chief Henson, operating the Fire District vehicle, was attempting to pass a 2005 GMC C5 truck, driven by 37-year old Robert M. Floyd of Keizer, when Floyd began to turn left into a business.

Chief Henson's vehicle struck the driver's side of Floyd's vehicle. Henson's vehicle rolled at least one before coming to rest on it's side. Both vehicle sustained major damage. Neither vehicle was carrying a passenger at the time of the crash.

Henson was transported to the Salem Hospital. Pursuant to HIPAA regulations, no information about his condition will be released without his authorization. Chief Henson has served as the Marion County Fire District Chief since 2007. He previously served as the Fire Chief at Turner Fire District and Assistant Chief in Sante Fe County, New Mexico. Floyd complained of minor pain, but was not transported for treatment. Pursuant to HIPAA regulations, no information about his condition will be released without his authorization. Deputy Kevin Ely of the Marion County Traffic Safety Team is conducting the investigation. It remains open, so no further information is available regarding the cause of the crash. The report should be complete and available for release within the next week.

Video of the scene by Jerry Freeman for Salem-News.com