An off-duty firefighter suffered a fatal death while he was helping a person with a flat tire after a car rammed into him. In the three-car accident, 29-year-old Cameron Duvall of Northfield, Minnesota, was killed, and a woman sustained serious injuries. The incident happened around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, in Pepper Pike, Ohio, per the official release of the Pepper Pike Police Department.
The firefighter was helping someone with a flat tire
Duvall and the woman, who came to help after the driver was waiting for roadside assistance, were found between the two cars. The investigation revealed that a speeding motorist hit the disabled vehicle and the second car parked in front of the disabled car, with the two victims working near the trunk.
The first responders conducted life-saving procedures on both victims, but the man was declared dead at the scene. The woman was taken to the Pepper Pike Fire Department and is currently stable, per the release.
The accused has been charged with multiple felony charges
The driver of the uncontrolled vehicle was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault, operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and failure to maintain an assured clear distance ahead. Pepper Pike police Lt. Jim Colbert later identified the accused as 26-year-old Joseph Simmons of Geneva, per the Firehouse magazine. He is currently held with a $150,000 bond.
The police extended their “deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of these two victims, along with everyone affected by this tragic incident.” As per the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association’s study, vehicle accidents and other traumatic incidents are one of the top three reasons behind the deaths of on-duty firefighters.
The fire department hailed Duvall’s dedication and professionalism
North Randall Mayor David Smith and North Randall Fire Department Chief Marshall Shorts also released an official statement on the loss of their beloved employee. It mentioned that the victim joined the services in 2022 and became “a respected and valued member.”…