TX Assistant Fire Chief Dies after Being Struck at Crash Scene

The Silsbee assistant chief died after being struck while working at vehicle accident scene Wednesday.

Emergency crews cleaning up the scene of a single-vehicle rollover when the firefighter was struck, according to 12NewsNow.com. 

According to the US Fire Administration, the fallen firefighter was identified Jay Hinkie, 61. He was rushed to Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth in Beaumont where he died, according to KFDM.com.

Silsbee District Fire Chief Vince McClammy called Hinkie a "pillar of the department."

"Working an accident scene is always precarious," Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis.

"A majority of our first responders are volunteers," Davis added. "They're truly public servants. They want to give back to their community. Working car crashes and house fires is dangerous. Bad things can happen. All first responders share the common goal: compassion for their community. They care for the people they live and work among. And they want to help their fellow man in a time of need."

Investigators from the Hardin County Sheriff's office remained on scene Wednesday to investigate the cause of the accident while firefighters gathered at the Silsbee fire station to mourn the loss of their colleague.