I want to start this commentary by sharing a little bit of personal frustration with you. I believe that it is my job as your editor involves seeing that you receive as much up-to-date information on highway safety issues as I can possibly identify and post.

Sad to say, many in the media world do not share our passion. Like everyone else, I am compelled to obey the copyright laws of the United States and Canada. I cannot simply post a story that I receive from a particular outlet or news source.

Each time I receive a news tip I contact the media source and request permission to use the story. I describe our critical mission and request their help.

In a number of instances, permission is quickly forthcoming, and for that I am most thankful. However in far too many instances, I receive no reply. I call and I sent emails, but often to no avail. I do keep trying, because that is the duty I owe to you. Thank goodness for the fine folks at Firehouse.com who help us out with this.

This would suggest that the information you see on our website is merely the tip of the iceberg. Steve Austin and I are working to get a better handle on this problem. Many times I will do a rewrite of the material. In that way I am creating a fresh article. Unfortunately, time prevents me from doing this too often. In line with this, I would like to share a couple of incidents with you.

According to a story in the Washington Post, " … A U.S. Park Police officer was killed early yesterday on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway when he was struck by a car while investigating a fatal accident that had occurred there two hours earlier."

The story, as written by Nancy Trejos and Michael Amon, speaks of the incident that took the life of Hakim Farthing, age 28. The Post story goes on to state that, " …the officer was pronounced dead at the scene, in the Cheverly area, about 3:35 a.m. yesterday. Police arrested Jovada P. Welch, 20, of Silver Spring and charged her with driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter."

Teresa C. Chambers, chief of the Park Police was quoted as saying, "It brings us all back to the realization that this is a dangerous job and we all lay our lives on the line every day." We here at Respondersafety.com wish to express our sincere condolences to Officer Farthing's family and coworkers.

We recently received work of another very odd occurrence. We would like to thank Danny Bevins from Kentucky for sharing this incident with us. It involves a situation where a fire department pumper was operating at a grass fire incident and apparently took off on its own, striking a number of parked vehicles.

According to a story in August 8, 2002 edition the Mt. Sterling Advocate, A total of seven vehicle were damaged. Two civilians in passing vehicles were struck as the Mini Pumper crossed the highway. One was a 70 year-old female who received injuries. She was transported to Mary Chiles Hospital and released a few hours later.

The story also mentioned that one firefighter was knocked to the ground. He was the would-be pump operator however as he throttled up the truck began roll away. The firefighter tried to re-enter the truck and was knocked to the ground. A second firefighter jumped from the top. It was reported that wheel chocks were not in use.

Once again, we must caution our readers to be sure that their apparatus are continually checked to insure that they are in proper mechanical operating condition. We would also urge a continuing program of driver's training to insure that firefighters use their equipment and apparatus according to proper procedures.

I would like to close with a quick word about the latest roadway fatality. According to a Firehouse.com story, " … John Moore, 42, Chief of Ellerbe Rescue, Inc. in Richmond County, NC was killed Monday, August 19, when he was struck by a vehicle while assisting an accident victim." "Moore was the first responder to a single car accident on U.S. Highway 220 one-mile north of Ellerbe when a car ran off the road and hit a guardrail during a rainstorm. According the NC Highway Patrol Trooper John C. Edwards, Moore positioned his personal vehicle with its bar lights between the road and the car in the accident." Sad to say, these tragic events are unfolding faster than we can report them. That is what makes our effort here so critically important. Steve Austin and I will be working hard to get the message out at the Fire Rescue International Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.

I guess we will just have to work a little harder now. We will try to stay on top of these issues and keep you abreast of any developments.