Wake school bus collides with two vehicles

RALEIGH -- City officials have confirmed that a veteran Raleigh firefighter was critically injured this morning after a Wake County school bus plowed into his pickup truck.

The impact of the crash pinned Lt. Harry P. "Flip" Kissinger IV inside of the vehicle, prompting his fellow firefighters to cut off the top of the pickup truck to free their badly injured comrade, authorities reported.

Kissinger is in critical condition at WakeMed, a hospital spokeswoman said this afternoon.

Kissinger, a married father of two daughters, joined the Raleigh Fire Department in 1997. He was on his way home after his work this morning at Fire Station 6 on Fairview Road when the wreck occurred, city officials reported.

Kissinger was pinned inside of his badly damaged pickup truck for about 45 minutes before rescuers could free him from the mangled wreckage. City authorities reported that doctors at WakeMed are treating him for a "variety of injuries, including a significant head injury," according to an online, City of Raleigh" press statement.

Kissinger's family, co-workers, and friends are currently holding a vigil at WakeMed, anxiously awaiting word from the hospital's medical staff, authorities reported.

Troopers with the N.C. State Highway Patrol are investigating the crash, but they are not yet available to say what caused the accident, or if charges will be filed.

The bus was en route to Centennial Middle School and Southeast Raleigh High School.

"Arrangements are being made to get the students to school," Poston said.