Firefighter killed when ladder truck slams into apartment building

BOSTON -- A firefighter was killed when a Boston Fire Department ladder truck crashed through a brick wall and into a high-rise apartment building Friday afternoon. Several others were injured.

Kevin M. Kelley, 52, of Quincy, a 30-year veteran of the Boston Fire Department, was killed in the crash. He leaves behind a wife and three adult children.

The truck apparently barreled down the steep Parker Hill Avenue, went through the intersection at Huntington Avenue and slammed into the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard apartment complex at 835 Huntington Avenue around 2:30 p.m., according to Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald.

Kelly was riding in the front seat of Ladder Truck No. 26 when it struck several cars and a brick wall before becoming lodged in the building. McDonald said Kelly died on the scene.

One firefighter aboard suffered a broken leg and two others had minor injuries. Another firefighter broke his ankle while helping with rescue efforts.

Four children who were in a computer learning center on the first floor of the building when it was hit by the truck were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Erin McColgan, a spokeswoman for Children's Hospital, said three children were treated there and released.

A spokeswoman for Boston EMS, Jennifer Mehigan said five people not involved in the accident were taken to hospitals to be checked because of anxiety-related symptoms.

Huntington Avenue from South Huntington to Brigham Circle were closed. Trolley service was terminated at Northeastern Station for much of the evening. Please monitor mbta.com for updates.

MacDonald declined to comment on the cause of the crash. He said the truck's maintenance records will be part of the investigation.

(Copyright (c) 2008 Sunbeam Television Corp. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)