Two Alabama firefighters injured when their tanker went off a single-lane bridge Wednesday are recuperating. The crash claimed the life of a 17-year-old junior member of Asbury Volunteer Fire Department.
Alethea Faye Nixon was buried Sunday following a final salute from fellow firefighters and a fly-over by a medevac helicopter. The funeral procession in the close-knit community stretched more than five miles, said Capt. Thad Brooks.
The young firefighter was riding in the cab of a tanker with three others en route to a structure fire with a neighboring company when it veered out of control. It went up on a bridge railing, and the weight of the 1,800 gallons of water started shifting.
The vehicle then plunged about 40 feet into a ravine, landing upside down. The driver, Michael Parr, crawled out of the overturned tanker, and climbed up to the road for help. "A witness was already on the phone," Brooks said.
The captain said he doesn't think anyone was wearing a seatbelt, and added that there are only two seats in the cab. No one was ejected in the crash. Firefighters had to use tools to extricate the injured men from the cab.
It's believed that the junior firefighter was killed instantly.
Two medevac helicopters landed nearby, and transported the seriously injured firefighters to separate hospitals. Chris Graves, who sustained head and facial injuries remains in serious condition at Huntsville Hospital. He is showing signs of improvement.
Chris Nixon, the victim's brother. was flown to UAB in Birmingham, a burn unit. Hot motor oil burned his left shoulder, back and thigh. He also suffered a fracture in his back. However, he was able to get up and walk around his room.
Parr, the driver, was treated for burns and released.
Brooks said the local Red Cross has offered its grief counselors, and may visit in the next few days.
Funds have been established to assist the injured firefighters with expenses. Information is available on the fire department website.
The death has hit the all-volunteer department and community hard. The young woman was active in sports and other local activities. "It's a family thing here at our fire house. Her father and brother are volunteers, and she was eager to take classes."
