The fire chief of the Elwood (NE) Volunteer Fire Department was killed in a head-on collision while en route to the scene of a wildfire, according to a notice from the U.S. Fire Administration.
On Thursday, April 7, 2022, Chief Darren D. Krull, 54, was a passenger in a Ford Expedition that was being driven by the Phelps County Emergency Manager. They were en route to a wildland fire when they were struck head on by a water transfer tank approximately eight miles outside of Arapahoe on Highway 283.
Chief Krull was rushed to the Chambers Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The Phelps County Emergency Manager was transported to the hospital and listed in stable but critical condition. Fire and smoke in the area caused zero visibility conditions on the roadway at the time of the crash. Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
