After tending to a semi-truck fire on Interstate 94 Monday, Dec. 17, Albertville Fire Chief Eric Bullen noticed something disturbing.
While authorities are often worried about “rubbernecking,” or drivers literally straining themselves to witness an accident or fire along a busy road or highway, the phenomenon has taken on a new twist.
Instead of just gawking … drivers are pulling out their cell phone cameras.
Bullen shared his dismay in a social media post on Tuesday morning, stating drivers were more concerned about social media posts than the safety of those tending to the fire.
” Some of these distracted drivers almost hit one of our vehicles, almost hit the traffic cones dividing the roadway, and drove into the soft shoulder while taking video. Before we cleared the scene, the videos had already been posted to our local social media bulletin board,” Bullen wrote.
Here’s the full post:
Editor’s note: North Wright County Today has obtained photos of these scenes in the past. However, we will use traffic cameras in the future, unless the photos are submitted by a witness who was using safe measures to obtain the media. NWCT does not, and HAS not, encouraged drivers to take photos while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.