Fire truck hits, kills homeless man while responding to emergency in Long Beach

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- An investigation is underway in Long Beach after a man was hit and killed by fire crews who were responding to an emergency overnight.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday outside Fire Station 8 on 2nd Street and Claremont Avenue, according to the Long Beach Fire Department.

A fire engine pulled out of the station to respond to an emergency when the crew was involved in a crash. An unidentified man was hit outside the station's garage door.

Crews rendered aid, but that man, identified as 61-year-old Michael Shaun Ross, died at the scene. Long Beach Police Department Public Information Officer Hannah Ortiz said the man was homeless.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the individual involved. In addition, our crews are also undergoing critical incident stress management to also deal with the challenges and the trauma associated with this tragic incident," said the department's Capt. Jake Heflan.

When asked if the engine's sirens were on at the time, Ortiz said that remains under investigation.

No other details have been released.