Iowa City, IA — February 23, 2024, Evelyn Bothmer was killed in a truck accident at about 7 a.m. in the 1000 block of South Scout Boulevard.
Authorities said a pedestrian was hit by an Iowa City Fire Department truck after it finished up a medical call at Legacy Senior Living.
Evelyn Bothmer, 99, died at the scene of the crash at 1020 South Scott Boulevard, according to authorities.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time. The crash is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Crashes involving emergency vehicles raise difficult questions, and this one is no exception. The fact that a fire truck — fresh off responding to a medical call — struck a pedestrian makes me wonder what exactly went wrong.
Most people assume that first responders, because of their training and experience, are less likely to be involved in accidents. While that may be true to some extent, it doesn’t mean they’re immune from mistakes. Fire trucks, in particular, are large, heavy, and have significant blind spots. If a pedestrian was in an area where the driver couldn’t see her, that could have contributed to the crash. But that doesn’t mean the case is open and shut.
The key question here is whether the fire truck driver exercised reasonable caution before moving the vehicle. Emergency vehicles have the same duty as any other to make sure the road is clear before they proceed, especially in a residential or senior living area where pedestrians may be present. Did the driver check all mirrors? Did they have a spotter directing them? Was the pedestrian visible, or did something obstruct the driver’s view? These are all things that should be examined as part of the investigation.
Beyond that, the fire department itself may have policies that come into play. How much training do their drivers receive? Are there procedures in place to prevent accidents like this? If those policies were ignored — or if they didn’t exist in the first place — that could shift some responsibility onto the department itself.
At this point, there’s not enough public information to say exactly what happened. But one thing is certain: Just because an emergency vehicle is involved doesn’t mean a crash should be written off as unavoidable. A proper investigation should dig into every possible factor to ensure that those responsible — whoever they may be — are held accountable.
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