Recording crash scenes while driving 'very dangerous,' says Gander fire chief

While responding to a two-vehicle crash on the Trans-Canada Highway Tuesday, Gander firefighters noticed something "unbelievably unsafe," according to fire chief Paul Fudge. 

It didn't have anything to do with the cars that crashed.

Rather, Fudge said, people passing the accident scene were using their phones to record the accident scene while they drove by.

"I noticed at least two people who were driving by and could see the flash working on their camera, so obviously they were trying to videotape while they were driving at the same time," Fudge told CBC News.

Fudge said the department believes one vehicle drove by once to take photos, only to turn around and drive past the scene again with their phone out as they drove. 

"It's very concerning for me because of course our personnel are roaming the area and they could step outside the safety zone for whatever reason," he said. 

"If these people aren't paying attention they could obviously get hurt."

'Curiosity' leads to close calls

Fudge said his department has had "lots of close calls," and fortunately no one has so far been injured. 

The RCMP also responded to the accident scene, although Fudge said everyone is so busy with the emergency situation that it's hard to police that traffic that passes by. 

We don't want to be responding to another accident at an accident. Just follow our directions and let us do our job.- Cpl. Trevor O'Keefe, RCMP

"The police can't do a lot about it because we're too involved in other things at the accident scene to actually turn around and chase these people and ticket them because it is a ticket-able offense," said Fudge. 

"They're driving and they're trying to videotape or take pictures of the accident scene itself. It's very unsafe, very dangerous for our firefighters."

'They're focusing on the accident'

RCMP in Holyrood have also noticed risky behaviour on the roads. 

"The drivers aren't focusing on the driving, they're focusing on the accident," said Cpl. Trevor O'Keefe.

"Taking pictures, videos, texting … their responsibility is to follow the directions and get through the scene safely. It's not to be 'reporting the news,' shall we say."

O'Keefe said officers are focused on providing medical attention and gathering evidence for an investigation — not watching their backs for distracted drivers. 

"We don't want to be responding to another accident at an accident. Just follow our directions, and let us do our job."

O'Keefe said the minimum fine for such a driving infraction is $150 and four demerit points, as well as a probable increase in car insurance.