A man was in critical condition last night at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center after he stepped between two firetrucks speeding to the scene of a fire and was hit by the second firetruck about 7 p.m. in the 200 of N. Eutaw St. near Lexington Market.

Battalion Chief Hector Torres said the man had crossed the southbound lanes of Eutaw when he was hit by an aerial tower truck that was the second of two trucks heading north to a house fire in the 2000 block of Harlem Ave.

The ladder truck had its sirens and lights activated when the accident occurred, Torres said. He said another firetruck was about a half-block ahead and had just passed the scene, with its lights and sirens also activated, when the pedestrian entered the roadway.

Torres declined to identify the pedestrian last night, pending notification of the family.

He said the house fire turned out to be minor and that the accident will be investigated by a department safety officer.

Pub Date: 10/03/98