BLOXOM, Va. — Community leaders in Va. have spoken of their sadness at the death of a firefighter who was ejected in a fire truck crash Monday.
Firefighter David Raymond Chew Jr., of the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company and a full-time medic for Northampton County EMS, was thrown from the vehicle when it rolled over.
Firefighter James Richard Lambirth lost control of the vehicle while in a curve and ran off the road, with the truck striking several trees.
Firefighter Chew was a United Methodist lay pastor, and reported that responding to emergency calls was as much a part of his ministry as preaching, according to DelmarvaNow.
“Part of his call to serve Jesus Christ was always to serve other people, so part of his ministry — to him — was to be with people in times of dire trouble, whether it be on an ambulance call or on a fire call or to just be with his fellow firefighters,” said the Rev. Tammy Estep, district superintendent of the Eastern Shore District of the United Methodist Church, told the newspaper.
Firefighter Chew, a third-generation firefighter, leaves a wife and a 3-year-old son.