Petersburg: 'No comment' on report of intoxicated firefighter driving truck that hit a car
PETERSBURG – City officials are refusing to comment on reports that a city firefighter who reportedly hit a parked car last week while driving a fire truck was intoxicated at the time.
Aaron Michael Hinspater, 34, of North Chesterfield, was listed in court records as blowing a .145 – almost twice the legal intoxicated limit in Virginia – on a breathalyzer test police gave him after the July 23 incident on Sycamore Street. Multiple media reports say he admitted to drinking 18 beers before getting behind the wheel of the fire truck.
The fire department was in the middle of a training exercise on Sycamore Street when the truck ran into the car. No one was inside the parked car.
Hinspater has been charged with driving while intoxicated and released on a $1,500 bond. No court date was immediately available.
Hinspater, who has been with the Petersburg Fire Department for nine months, was placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
Late Thursday, the city released a four-sentence statement confirming that an unnamed firefighter “was involved in a vehicle accident,” adding that the firefighter involved was placed on admin leave “as per protocol.” It did not acknowledge the intoxication.
Asked by The Progress-Index Saturday for comment about whether the incident or whether it could affect future enforcement of city policy for first responders' cognitive abilities while on duty, a city spokesperson replied, “No additional statements at this time.”
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg firefighter admits to drinking alcohol before shift accident
