Firefighters Memorial
A southeast Georgia community is mourning a Stockton volunteer firefighter killed in while responding to a fire call.
Lanier County District Fire Chief Gary Yeomans said 32-year-old Dereck North was riding in the passenger seat of the fire truck. He was was killed when his 33-year-old brother, Chad, swerved to avoid a collision at a traffic light on Highway 129 Monday.Yeomans said they were responding to a woods fire.
Investigators believe the water in the tank shifted when the truck swerved, causing it to roll twice.
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North, Derek Edward
| Age: | 34 |
|---|---|
| Cause of Death: | Vehicle Collision |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Nature of Death: | Trauma |
| Classification: | Volunteer |
| Emergency Duty: | Yes |
| Incident Date: | 02/23/2009 |
| Duty Type: | Responding |
| Incident Time: | 15:59 |
| Activity Type: | Riding Vehicle/Apparatus |
| Death Date: | 02/23/2009 |
| Fixed Prop. Use: | Street/Road |
| Fire Dept. Info: | Stockton Fire Department Lakeland/Lanier Fire and Rescue (District) PO Box 68 Lakeland , Georgia 31635 Chief: Jimmy North |
| Initial Summary: | Incident Description: Firefighter Derek North was riding in the officer seat of the department’s 1966 Ford Fire Knocker in response to a fire call. For a cause still being investigated by authorities, the apparatus overturned at an intersection when it reportedly swerved to avoid a collision with other traffic. Three firefighters are reported to have been in the apparatus, Firefighter Derek North passed away from injuries, and the others, including his brother, Firefighter Chad North who was operating the vehicle, sustained serious injuries. The fire apparatus was leased from the state and is reported to have had a baffled tank.
Seat belts: Unknown at this time if equipped or in use. Incident Location: Intersection of U.S. 84 and U.S. 129. Map View: http://floridadisaster.org/gis/kml/viewer.htm?zoom=16&usng=17RLQ08152428&disp=h |
| Memorial Fund Info: | In memory of Firefighter Derek Edward North, c/o Lakeland/Lanier Fire and Rescue, PO Box 68, Lakeland, GA 31635. |
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