While it appears the controller gave clearance, and did mess up, it wasn't the primary reason for the accident.

The runway status lights (there are various kinds) were activated and the driver of the emergency vehicle proceeded anyway. In one of the videos, the "company of vehicles" stopped, the lead vehicle did not.

Also, the fire trucks did not have transponders.

The lead truck didn't, not sure about the others...

NTSB: The midnight shift was operating under standard operating procedures at the time of the accident.
There were two people in the tower cab, the local controller and the controller in charge. The local controller signed on at 22:45 local time.
The controller in charge clocked in at 22:30.
It is not clear who was conducting the duties of the ground controller, and there is conflicting information, the NTSB said.

NTSB chair Homendy also mentions the truck that had requested to cross the runway. "We do know there were other vehicles behind truck 1 that did not cross the runway."
She says truck 1 did not have a transponder.
The final 10 seconds of the CVR:

10 seconds - An electronic "10" call out was heard
9 seconds - The tower instructed truck one to stop
8 seconds - A sound consistent with the aircraft's landing gear touching down on the runway
6 seconds - Pilot transfer of controls from one pilot to the other
4 seconds - Tower again instructs the truck to stop moving
0 seconds - Recording ends

NTSB chair Homendy says the ASDE-X, a surveillance system at the airport using radar and other technology, did not generate an alert due to the close proximity of vehicles merging on the runway.

To cross the runway, the vehicle needed both the REL and Clearance from a controller.

#4 | POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

The Jerk of all trades. And expert at none.
#14 | POSTED BY DONNERBOY

What are you talking about, this is exactly what he needed to cross he doesn't get a "final say".
He is like a PIC responsible for his vehicle and can decline proceeding. But he cannot go on the runway without authorization.

The driver crossing the runways always has the final say and responsibility.

Only after authorization by the controlling authority, AND in this case the REL.

"final say" doesn't mean anything, no where in FAR/AIM will you see "final say".

Good to see our resident know-it-all can watch a YouTube video like anyone else.

Well certainly captures it better then your sloppy description.

We should definitely be investigating the overworked controller instead of the Trump administration for cutting the FAA budget in order to push through another tax cut.

There were two controllers and it was the midnight shift (per my post, and the youtube, which I guess DialAgain thinks you should have already watched)

Good to see our resident know-it-all

If find this funny because I spent 5 years earning my, PPL, IFR, Commercial licenses/qualifications, have close to 800hrs, and I am now studying to get my CFI.

So I don't know it all but as I have stated before, I know more than you meatballs.

No one printed or reported that the poor guy fell asleep at the wheel out of sheer exhaustion because he was forced to work two jobs to put food on the table for his family in our glorious Feudal States of Amerikkka.

Well how did you find out about it? Youtube?