The driver of the Somers Post Office mail truck said it was his loyalty to the community and the United States Postal Service that pushed him to try to save whatever he could as his truck went up in flames on Monday, April 8.
Jonathan Jusino, 34, a Brewster resident, said he was still shaken up and smelled of smoke during a phone call the next day. He’s worked for the Somers Post Office for more than 15 years and was driving the route he’s held for six years when the engine of his mail truck caught fire on Warren Street.
“I just want to make everyone aware that I came out OK injury wise,” Jusino said during a phone call Tuesday, April 9. “It was stressful to be in that situation.”
Jonathan Mackey, assistant fire chief for the Somers Volunteer Fire Department, said firefighters could see the smoke billowing up on Warren Street at around 2 p.m. when approaching the truck, which was “well involved with fire.”
Jusino said he didn’t want to get into the details of what happened and was spending time with his wife and two young daughters after the incident. He suffered a burn to his hand when he went into the mail truck to save whatever he could. Read more
Vehicle will be back in service on Monday, I’m sure. Have they ever heard of maintenance. Illegal retread tires, no safety inspections and lack of maintenance cause these trucks to go up in flames. Bedford Hills (about 10 miles away) had one go up in flames a couple years ago. I guess the USPS isn’t smart enough to put a fire extinguisher in each vehicle.
Bedford Hills ( about 10 miles away ) had one go up in flames a few years ago. Vehicles use retread tires( illegal anywhere else in the U.S.) Must be very very poor maintenance done on old tired vehicles. The vehicles can’t keep up with all the extra use from Amazon parcels.
When I was still working there would have been no way I would save the mail from my burning truck. The USPS doesn’t care about making the carriers use 33 year old vehicles, so why should we care about the consequences.