A 52-year-old South King Fire & Rescue firefighter/engineer was struck by a vehicle around 5:30 a.m. Sunday while assessing the scene of a rollover accident on southbound Interstate 5, South King Fire & Rescue announced in a news release.

In the meantime, "another southbound vehicle apparently lost control while approaching the scene, struck the firefighter/engineer, narrowly missing the other firefighter and the lieutenant" on scene just south of the South 272nd Street exit, South King Deputy Chief Gordie Olson said in a news release.

The other South King staff members on the scene called for medical aid.

The firefighter/engineer – identified by the Washington State Patrol as Wynn Loiland of Gig Harbor – suffered a head injury and was unconscious, Olson said. He was treated by units at the scene and transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Olson reports that Loiland is in critical condition with severe head and facial injuries, a collapsed lung and a broken arm. "More will not be known for the next 24-48 hours," the South King news release said.

Loiland's wife and two adult sons are with him at Harborview, Olson said.

The 26-year-old driver of the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer that struck the firefighter/engineer was not injured.

The accident is under investigation by the Washington State Patrol.

In the earlier accident – the one that drew South King Fire & Rescue to the scene – the driver of the rolled-over vehicle had left before fire and medical crews arrived.