On-duty San Francisco firefighter arrested for DUI after crash

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- An on-duty San Francisco firefighter was arrested this weekend after the fire truck he was driving collided with a motorcycle. Police say that firefighter was drunk and then left the scene.

Michael Quinn is a 23-year veteran with the San Francisco Fire Department. His friends say he's never been in trouble before. In fact, he's a decorated firefighter. But on Saturday, his life took a turn.

In June of 2002, a fast-moving fire raced through the Baldwin Hotel in downtown San Francisco.

Veteran firefighter Quinn was one of the firefighters who received a Meritorious Service Award for rescuing 20 people.

Four years later, he won another award for rescuing a construction worker trapped in a building collapse.

Late Saturday night, with its siren and lights on, the fire truck he was driving responded to a call of smoke in a building south of Market, near 5th and Howard streets.

As he turned the truck, police say it hit a motorcycle. The rider was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Police say Quinn suddenly left the scene of the accident and disappeared for several hours before returning.

Fire investigators gave him a breathalyzer test, which showed an alcohol reading of .16, which is twice the legal limit. He was subsequently arrested.

Last month, the 43-year-old firefighter survived a 500-foot fall when his hang glider plunged into the waters near Fort Funston.

Police booked him for a DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.

A police source tells us that Quinn was "uncooperative" when they asked him to take their breathalyzer test. We're told he subsequently took a "blood" test.

And police are waiting for those results before submitting the case to the district attorney, possibly Tuesday.

Those who know Quinn say he's had a difficult year. A firefighter who knows him told ABC7 News that Quinn's mother and sister died within months of each other due to illnesses. And now, this.

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sffd, soma, crash, driving, fire, DUI, alcohol, san francisco news, vic lee

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