Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Mourns Death Of Junior Firefighter - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

DAGSBORO, Del. - The Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of its junior firefighters, who was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident while responding to a reported woods fire late Thursday afternoon.

This is the first line-of-duty death for the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department in its 69-year history.

Delaware State Police say the victim, 17-year-old Justin Townsend, was a passenger in a pickup truck heading northbound on Pepper Road. The 18-year-old driver was taking the junior firefighter to the Dagsboro Fire Company, Station 73, to answer an emergency brush fire alarm.

Investigators say due to high speeds, the driver lost control the pickup truck which struck a telephone pole before overturning onto the roof, crushing the passenger's side of the truck. Both men were reportedly properly restrained.

Townsend was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck, John Morton Jr., suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating the crash.

Due to the incident, the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department is currently out of service as members mourn this tragic loss. All emergency calls within the Dagsboro fire district will be answered by neighboring fire departments that are standing by at Station 73.