Mixed emotions after volunteer firefighter causes tragic crash

On Behalf of O’Malley Tunstall PLLC | Jul 6, 2018 | Firm News

Some of the bravest, most selfless people are volunteer firefighters. They put their lives on the line to protect citizens and property from destructive and deadly flames.

Of course, volunteer firefighters are humans who make mistakes as everyone else does. Unfortunately, a North Carolina fireman’s recent error cost him his life and caused serious injuries to others in a Rowan County crash as the Liberty Fire Department volunteer responded to a call.

Liberty is about an hour west of Raleigh. The firefighter was responding in his pick-up truck to a call about a motor vehicle accident when he drove into the side of a vehicle that had slowed to make a left-hand turn.

Two women who were on their way to a picnic were hospitalized after the crash on Gold Knob Road near Park Drive. Both suffered serious injuries and were airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital.

The husband of one of the women said they are “both hurting; got a lot of healing to do.” He said he’s struggling to deal with what happened to his wife.

“A basket of mixed emotions, frustration, anger, the fact that I almost watched my wife die in front of me,” he said.

The sister of the firefighter said she is sorry for the victims and that she knows her brother did not intentionally harm the women. “I can tell you because he was there to save lives not take lives,” she said.

Police said no charges would be filed in the crash because the volunteer firefighter was at fault.