One firefighter was killed and another sustained serious injuries when an Abingdon Fire Department vehicle crashed Thursday, wjhl.com reported.
The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. when the vehicle was responding to a fire alarm call, according to the Virginia State Police (VSP).
State police said the fire truck was traveling south on Vance’s Mill Road when it dropped off the right side of the road, overturned, struck a utility pole and then slid down an embankment on its side.
The passenger, identified by VSP as Cameron Craig, 20, of Saltville, Virginia, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene, according to the police report.
The driver of the truck was taken to Bristol Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, according to VSP. He was released Thursday night. Both Craig and the driver were wearing seatbelts, VSP reported.
Craig had been with the department for about a year and a half, wdbj7.com reported.
The Virginia State Police Wytheville Division Crash Reconstruction Team is assisting VSP with the ongoing investigation, the report said.
“On behalf of the Town of Abingdon, we would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family of Firefighter Cameron Craig. He was a dedicated member of the Abingdon Fire Department family and will be missed,” Amanda Pillion, Town of Abingdon Mayor said, wdbj7.com reported.
The Johnson City Firefighters Association L-1791 posted the following on Facebook:
LODD Abingdon, VA
A 20-year-old firefighter was killed in the line of duty and another critically injured when an Abingdon Fire Department vehicle, reportedly, responding on a run, was involved in a rollover crash. Abington is in Virginia near the Tennessee line. The crash happened Thursday evening on Vance’s Mill Road. Our condolences to all those affected. Rest In Peace.
Johnson City Firefighters Association has deployed our peer support team to assist our neighboring agency at this time.
