The scene of the crash in Bellmore, L.I., that touched off a maniac who shot a firefighter trying to help and later died in a gun battle with cops. (NEIL MILLER)
A Long Island firefighter responding to a car crash last night was shot by the crazed, heavily armed man he was rushing to help, police said.
The crash victim then got into a wild shootout with cops, who fatally wounded the suspect after he fired at them, officials said.
The gun battle began after the driver crashed into an utility pole shortly before 10 p.m. on Bellmore Avenue in Bellmore.
When emergency responders arrived, they saw the unidentified man sitting in the middle of the road.
He then fired four rounds and struck one of the men in the back as he was fleeing from the gunfire.
“I saw a man on all fours in the street and a woman nearby yelling, ‘He’s shot! He’s shot!,” said witness Mike Hahn.
Cops arrived and fatally shot the gunman.
Wounded firefighter Justin Angell was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
When officials searched the Ford F-150, they found several rifles and shotguns and at least one pistol.
Cops did not know why the man fired at the first responders.
On Wednesday, Angell posted to Facebook: “To everyone…thank u so much for the calls concerns and visits…im still in icu but I feel ok just got up and walked a bit…thank u and I will keep u updated love u all!”