A Belmont Hills Fire Company firefighter was killed after being struck while working the scene of a crash in Lower Merion Township early Saturday. Two other firefighters and a state trooper were injured and the driver faces multiple charges.
Fire and police units were called to an accident on Interstate 76 — the Schuylkill Expressway — around 3 a.m.
Crews had been working at the scene for 20 minutes when a vehicle struck the three firefighters and a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper, according to WFMZ.
Firefighter Tom Royds went into cardiac arrest and on-scene crews began treating the injured responders.
Royds was rushed to Paoli Hospital where he later died.
Two firefighters were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center via PennSTAR and JeffSTAT medevacs where it is reported that they were in surgery Saturday morning.
The trooper was also taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center with injuries.
The Belmont Hills Fire Company is located in Lower Merion Township, which is also protected by Penn-Wynne Overlook Hills Fire Company. Penn-Wynne firefighter Sean W. DeMunyck died in a July 4 house fire, the day before he was set to move back to Canada.
According to NJ.com, police charged the 63-year-old driver, Jacquelyn Walker, with vehicular homicide while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangering along with other counts.
Two others involved with the initial crash were charged with driving under the influence, 6ABC.com reports.
