Struck By Taxi

Injured Firemen Recovering

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

Two Firefighters who were seriously injured July 19 after a taxi smashed into the back of their fire truck, pinning one of them to the vehicle, are slowly recuperating, Fire Department officials said last week.

ON THE MEND: Firefighters Michael Schunk (left) and John Walters were struck and seriously injured by a swerving taxi July 19. The accident left Firefighter Walters pinned between the cab and the fire truck, and knocked Firefighter Schunk to the ground. Both men underwent surgery last week to repair broken legs.

Firefighter John Walters underwent 12 hours of emergency surgery after the accident at Bellevue Hospital as doctors tried to repair the compound fractures that shattered his legs. As this paper went to press July 24, he was still in critical condition.

Visit From Mayor

Firefighter Michael Schunk, treated at New York Hospital, had a steel rod surgically placed in his crushed right tibia. The 37-year-old was in stable condition following the procedure. He later got a visit from his wife and 2-year-old daughter, as well as Mayor Bloomberg, who also spent time with Firefighter Walters.

The men sustained their injuries around 10:30 p.m. as they walked around the back of their double-parked fire truck on Columbus Ave. at West 71st St. Their company - Rescue 1 - had just finished a grueling 14-hour shift and stopped to pick up dinner at a local eatery.

FDNY officials said Firefighter Schunk, a 12-year veteran, was tossed to the ground by the impact. Firefighter Walters, who avoided internal injuries, was pinned below the waist to the fire truck by the errant cab.

Police Officers investigating the incident said the taxi driver, Mohamed Ali Khamis, swerved to avoid another car and plowed into the fire rig as the two Firefighters stood at its back. There were no skid marks, indicating the driver hadn't braked.

Mr. Khamis and his passenger suffered minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Both were released that night. No charges have been brought or summonses issued against Mr. Khamis.