Luton lollipop man suspended after blocking fire engine
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Version 0 of 1. A lollipop man has been suspended after claims that he stopped a fire engine on its way to an emergency call so that children could continue crossing the road. The vehicle was on its way to put out a burning tree when the man stopped it by ushering children and parents across the road. Luton council has suspended the man and is investigating the incident, which took place as children were leaving William Austin Junior School in Bedfordshire on 13 April. A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “A firefighter spoke to the crossing guard and moved the remaining pedestrians out of the road before assisting other vehicle drivers to clear a path so we could continue to the incident.” Jacqui Brittain, who witnessed the incident from her bedroom window, told Luton News she saw the man lead children across the road. “He started crossing children when the engine was only a few yards away. I thought, ‘Get out of the road’ … It came to a halt at the crossing as he stood there waiting, then he went back to the pavement and did it again. “He just carried on until five or six firefighters got out to speak to him. They surrounded him. I bet they couldn’t believe their eyes when he went out again. It could have been someone burning to death.” Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said that the situation was made worse by local traffic. “Cars parked outside the rear entrance to the school in the no-parking areas and an ice-cream van narrowed the road to one lane and held up our progress to the incident.” The man has been suspended while an investigation into the incident was carried out, according to a spokesman for the council. He said: “It is vital that emergency services are able to reach their destinations quickly and freely, and we have begun an immediate investigation in line with council procedures. We are working closely with Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and have requested CCTV footage from the appliance to ascertain exactly what happened.” |