TX Firefighter Dies After Being Struck

Firefighter fatality

Another firefighter has been killed after being struck by a vehicle, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

On Monday, October 7, 2019, Firefighter Steven Henderson with the Louise (TX) Volunteer Fire Department and another firefighter were returning from a fire call in a tanker truck when they stopped alongside the road to inspect the front tires. 

While outside the vehicle, another firefighter from the same fire department driving his personal pick-up truck, who was also at the scene of the fire call and left shortly after Henderson, did not see the truck parked in the roadway or the two firefighters standing outside of it. He subsequently hit both Henderson and the other firefighter.

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Henderson was immediately transported by LifeFlight to the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, in Houston, where, on Saturday, October 12, 2019, he succumbed to the injuries sustained in the accident.  The other firefighter who was hit had nonlife threatening injuries and was released from OakBend Medical Center in Richmond, Texas.

Firefighter Henderson was 60 years old and had 26 years of service.

The incident represents yet another tragic instance of firefighters being killed after being struck by vehicles. Earlier this week, a San Antonio (TX) firefighter was killed after being hit while stepping off an apparatus, while earlier this month a Lexington County (SC) firefighter was killed after being struck by a semi while on the scene of vehicle crash. In addition, a CAL Fire captain was killed in a fiery vehicle collision.

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