Final Farewell For Detroit Firefighter Hundreds of firefighters gathered amid the falling snow in Detroit Monday for the funeral of firefighter Joe Torkos.
Torkos, 47, died Wednesday in a crash involving a fire truck and an SUV. The driver of the SUV, Robert Lee Waller, III, 31, was also killed.
A large American flag hung from the ladders of two fire engines over Junction Avenue. The funeral was preceded by a traditional firefighter ceremony that took place Monday morning at St. Hedwig Church in Detroit.
Fire officials said Torkos had a young child and his wife was pregnant. His wife had just had an ultrasound and had found out they were going to have a baby girl. She was going to tell her husband the information when he returned home from work.
Torkos reportedly was alive for a short time after the accident. Witnesses said his last words were, "Tell my wife and daughter I love them".
Police said the SUV was speeding southbound on 14th Street before it struck a fire truck heading westbound on West Grand Boulevard.
Officials said the truck was rushing to the scene of a fire and its lights and siren were on.
Police told Local 4 Waller did not have a valid driver's license, and had been previously cited for driving without a license. Sources told Local 4 the speedometer of the SUV was stuck at 84 mph, and an open bottle of cognac and a handgun were also found in the vehicle. Detroit police spokesman James Tate said he also had a bag of cocaine in his pocket.
Waller was traveling with his cousin Abdul Hubbard, 31, his daughter, Arnisha Waller, 11, and his daughter's 10-year-old friend, Keana Dykes. Friends said they were on their way to a birthday party for Waller's daughter.
Hubbard is in serious condition at Henry Ford Hospital. Arnisha Waller and Dykes were released from Children's Hospital Friday.
Lt. Walter Grysko remains in serious condition at Henry Ford Hospital, and two other firefighters that were injured in the crash have been released.
