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Fire Truck Turns Bentley into Tin Can

TX – One of the state’s most prominent personal injury attorneys was in critical condition Friday after being hurt when a fire engine struck his Bentley in Oak Lawn.

Brian Loncar, whose Loncar Associates has offices across Texas, was injured shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Lemmon Avenue and Lomo Alto Driver.

Police say a fire truck with lights and sirens blaring passed through a red light at the intersection and slammed into the driver’s side of Mr. Loncar’s 2008 Bentley.

The force of the accident pushed Mr. Loncar’s car through the intersection, spinning off the road and into a third vehicle carrying a woman and three children.

Firefighters and those in the third vehicle suffered minor injuries, but no one was transported to the hospital, police said.

Mr. Loncar, 47, was transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital. The nature and extent of Mr. Loncar’s injuries were unknown and hospital officials declined to confirm whether he was at the hospital. No one at his firm could be reached for comment.

His face is a familiar one around Texas, where he can often be seen saying in television ads, “When you’re hurt in a car wreck, you need someone on your side.” His commercials and his Web site advise people to call in the “Strong Arm” when a person has been injured “due to the negligence or misconduct of another person.”

Dallas police Lt. Scott Bratcher said that the accident remains under investigation. But he said the accident will likely be ruled as Mr. Loncar’s fault because he “failed to yield right of way to an emergency vehicle.” Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Sherrie Lopez said the fire engine contained 500 gallons of water and also suffered damage to the right side of the vehicle. Ms. Lopez did not have an estimate of the damage but said the truck would have to be returned to the manufacturer for repair.

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