Two firefighters in Berks County were struck and killed Saturday evening by a man driving under the influence, according to police.
Fire Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick of the Walnuttown Fire Co. were searching for a missing person in Richmond Township when the crash happened.
Shortly before 6 p.m., their utility terrain vehicle — slightly larger than an ATV — was traveling on U.S. Route 222 when a car coming from the other direction swerved off the road and collided with them head on, said a Fleetwood police spokesperson. Route 222 is the main road connecting Reading and Allentown.
Buck was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital and Shick was taken to Reading Hospital. Both men succumbed to their injuries, police said.
According to police, the driver and his passenger fled after the accident, but were quickly apprehended by officers.
“On a personal note, everyone is devastated, we worked side by side with these guys … It’s going to be huge loss,” said the Fleetwood police spokesperson.
According to the Walnuttown Fire Co. Facebook page, funeral arrangements have not yet been made.
“Rest easy chiefs, we got it from here,” reads a fire company post from Saturday night.
Officials also reported that the missing Berks County woman who the firefighters had been searching for has been located.