When the guy driving the fire-truck coming to save your life is actually driving drunk…he just might kill you instead of saving you…

From San Francisco Appeal

An on-duty San Francisco firefighter who was arrested on suspicion of DUI and leaving the scene of a crash that involved a fire truck late Saturday night had no prior disciplinary record, fire officials said today.

Michael Quinn, 43, was arrested following the collision, in which the fire truck he was driving struck a motorcycle around 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Fifth and Howard streets in the city’s South of Market neighborhood, police said.

The fire truck was responding to an emergency call with its lights and siren on when it struck the motorcyclist, who was seriously injured but is expected to survive, police said.

Quinn was later arrested after apparently leaving the scene of the crash, according to police.

Fire department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said Quinn is a 23-year veteran of the department.

Quinn has no prior disciplinary record and, in fact, has two merit awards for his actions as a firefighter, said Tom O’Connor, president of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798, the union representing the city’s firefighters.

“He’s never been in trouble his whole career,” O’Connor said.

“It’s very uncharacteristic.”….MORE