Spartanburg,SC : Volunteer firefighter killed in Spartanburg Co. collision on February, Wednesday 7th 2018
Spartanburg, South Carolina
The Spartanburg County Coroner Office's says a volunteer firefighter was killed in a collision on Wednesday.
The coroner said the crash occurred on Hannon Road behind Holly Springs Baptist Church.
The victim was identified as 20-year-old Harley Danyale Richardson of Inman. Troopers said she was entrapped in her vehicle after running off the road and striking a tree. She was seatbelted during the collision.
Richardson was a volunteer firefighter with the Holly Springs Fire Department.
"There was not a task out there at hand she was not willing to strive at, work at and 99 percent of the time accomplish," said Chief Brent Blackwell.
He said she was still in high school when she started volunteering.
"Great outgoing person with a great personality," Blackwell said. "Everybody loved her up here and she was just great to be around."
The chief said he had no idea what his day would end up being like when he walked into work on Wednesday. He said they were busy running calls, when they pulled up to a scene not far from the fire station.
"Every time you show up on one you can look at the scene and kind of get to know the situation to size it up," Blackwell recalls.
He said when they walked closer, their hearts sank.
"You're never ready for it to be one of your own," Blackwell said.
He said coming up on the scene and realizing who was in the car was a total shock for everyone.
The Fire Chief said it hasn't hit most of them yet, but he's talking with chaplains to help his men and women get through the loss. For now, he said they will remember her vibrant personality.
"Never once did we have any issues with her not wanting to do something, she was always ready to go," Blackwell said. "A lot of times she would outdo the guys up here, she was real good and we are going to miss her."
Source :
Volunteer firefighter killed in Spartanburg Co. collision