Frank Vernon White was born on 22 October 1914, in LaRue, Ohio. His parents are Orten W. & Grace (Moore) White. His parents preceded him in death. When Frank V. White filled out his draft card in 1940, he listed his occupation as farming with William Guthery of LaRue. Frank did serve in the United States Navy during World War Two. We find that Frank was a member of the Phillipi-Clement Post 101, American Legion, based in LaRue. Frank was married to Lucille M. (Kale).
Frank V. White was active in his community. He was a past councilman with the village of LaRue and also Mayor form 1966 until his death. He also served on the LaRue Volunteer Fire Department. At the time of his death, Frank V. White was employed with B. F. Goodrich Company, in Green Camp, as a foreman.
On 26 March 1967, Frank V. White responded with the LaRue Volunteer Fire Department to a report of a grass fire. This was one of several the department responded to on that day. The grass fires were all burning along the New York Central railroad. These fires were thought to be caused by a passing train. This fire was located about two miles east of the village of LaRue and nearly a quarter of a mile from the nearest road.
While at the scene Frank V. White collapsed. Andrew Ford, a LaRue Funeral Director, was called to the scene to find Mr. White already dead. Due to the difficulty accessing the scene, Mr. Ford flagged a train crew and gained their assistance in delivering a cot to the scene and removing Mr. White to the nearest road crossing.
It was thought that White died of a heart attack while assisting at the fire. He died while in the Line of Duty (LODD) and left behind his wife and two daughters.
Frank V. White is buried at the LaRue Cemetery, LaRue, Marion County, Ohio. At the burial members of Phillipi-Clement Post 101, American Legion conducted military honors.
The Scioto Valley Fire District (LaRue Fire Dept.) has a plaque to honor the memory of Frank V. White for the sacrifice he made.
Frank V. White is remembered on the World War Two Memorial Wall and on the Marion County Fire Fighters Memorial, both located in the Marion Cemetery.
Michael Robert Landes was born on 14 October 1943, in Caledonia, Ohio. His parents are Robert C. & Virginia K. (Sartin) Landes, younger brother Donald (Porkie) Landes, older sister Patricia who married the now deceased Gerald Bowers and an infant sibling who died at birth. His early years were spent living between Caledonia and Bucyrus until his parents purchased a home on South High Street in Caledonia. Michael attended Caledonia High School, where he played on the baseball team and was a part of the final class of 23 students to receive their diplomas from Caledonia in 1963, after this, students were at the newly constructed River Valley High School in Claridon, Ohio.
After high school Michael joined the U.S Navy where he was stationed off the coast of Africa and worked as a cook during the Vietnam War. He tried his best to make the bland military food appealing to his shipmates and was known to barter an extra hamburger or two in exchange for cigarettes or premium laundry service. In August of 1968 he was honorably discharged with a rank of Culinary Specialist Third Class (CS3).
Michael R. Landes was involved in the community he was raised in. He served on the Caledonia Council, was a member in several clubs and organizations. He served on the newly formed First Consolidated Fire Department as the Emergency Medical Service Coordinator for the department. He was also a barber by trade.
Shortly after the Navy he attended Andrew’s Barber College in Columbus Ohio, and after receiving his barbers license, he opened Mike’s Barber Shop in Cardington, Ohio, in addition to joining the Caledonia volunteer fire department.
One night after work in October of 1970 he was introduced to Jean A. Boston by a mutual friend and was immediately smitten, so much so he was known to play the song “Jean” whenever a jukebox was available. The two were married May 1, 1971, and had two children Michelle (Mitzi) R. and David W.
In February of 1971, he began as one of the original 10 full time members of the Marion Township Fire Department working under Chief Harry Burdick. Landes was promoted to Lieutenant when the department expanded to three shifts. He was assigned to lead A-shift. The original group of ten all came from varying backgrounds none of which was previous fire service with the exception of volunteer work. The crew worked well together and were known for playing practical jokes on one another during down time. Being a small department with only a $100,000 budget to work with ($771,000 in today’s economy) and no paramedic squad in the fleet the firefighters purchased and outfitted a chassis truck at the cost of $18,500 and placed it into service in early 1973.
Wanting to also be of service to his home community of Caledonia, he ran for a vacant seat and won the election to have a seat as a member of the Caledonia Village Council in November of 1975.
On the morning of 26 February 1976, Landes was driving a water tanker truck from the Caledonia Fire Department to a reported structure fire. He and two other firefighters were responding in the tanker. It was reported that when Landes turned the tanker right from Caledonia’s High Street onto State Route 309, he realized the brakes had failed. He then lost control of the tanker and the truck rolled, throwing himself and another firefighter from the vehicle. All three firefighters were injured, but Landes suffered fatal injuries while he was pinned beneath the truck.
Michael died of his injuries and left behind his parents, wife, Jean, and two minor children. Landes’ death was in the line of duty and was grieved by his many friends and coworkers. Michael R. Landes was 32 years old when he died. He is buried in the New Caledonia Cemetery, Caledonia, Marion County, Ohio.
He is also remembered on the Marion County Firefighters Memorial located at the front of the Marion Cemetery. His daughter Michelle worked as a dispatcher for the Marion Township Fire Department and was an administrative assistant upon retiring. Michelle’s 3 children, Erica, Michael and Sophia have also done their part with MTFD and being legacies of the department have been known to suit up as Sparky the Fire Dog at community parades and events.
Michael’s son David also has worked in fire service working wild-land fires in the Carolinas and Tennessee, he is currently an Independent Contractor in San Marcos Texas.
Thank You to David Landes for assisting in writing this article and Jean for her assistance with providing valuable information. Thanks to all of the family of Michael Landes for their sacrifice in keeping our community safe.
James H. Johnson was born 27 August 1933, in New Bloomington, Ohio. His parents are Gomer R. & Genevieve (Sylvester) Johnson. James was married to Jean R. Johnson. James was a farmer. James H. Johnson was serving as a Lieutenant with the New Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department. He had volunteered with the New Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department since 1950. James Johnson was a past president of the Marion County Farm Bureau, was a 4-H advisor for over 25 years. He had also earned the American Farmer degree in 1955. On the night of 5 June 1997, he and two other rescuers gave their lives, in the line of duty, to save a patient. The rescuers, knowing the dangers that existed at the scene made calculated risks to make attempts at removing a patient from a dangerous scene. Unfortunately Lt. Johnson, Lt. Robert D. Good and Lt. Charles A. Rudd died in the line of duty. Lt. James H. Johnson is buried in the Agosta Cemetery, New Bloomington, Ohio. James H Johnson is remembered on the Marion County Firefighters Memorial located at the front of the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Thank you to the Marion Firefighters Memorial for writing up the following, to recognize the rescuers who gave their lives in an attempt to save a patient and to recognize those who will forever be affected by these events.
Lieutenant Robert Good Battle Run Fire District & Rural Metro EMS Lieutenant James Johnson New Bloomington Fire Department Firefighter Charles Rudd New Bloomington Fire Department 25 years ago today Marion County tragically lost 3 responders. Please take a moment and read. Watch yourselves and others on scene. And don’t drink and drive. “Code 10, Code 10, we need five, we need at least five squads now; we have people down.” The frantic radio transmission from Marion County, OH, Sheriff’s Deputy B.J. Gruber was the first indication that something terribly wrong had occurred at the scene of what should have been a routine transport. Shortly after 10 P.M. on June 5, 1997, the New Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department along with a medic ambulance from Rural Metro/EMS were dispatched to a cell-phone report of a motor vehicle accident on a country road with wires reported down. Sources: Marion County Sheriff’s Department and The Marion Star/Dave Breeding As fire, law enforcement and EMS personnel arrived, they surveyed the scene that lay before them. A pickup truck driven by a 28-year-old man had traveled off the right side of the road, severing a high-voltage power pole and coming to rest against approximately 100 feet farther down the road. The semi-conscious driver was lying in the ditch beside his truck, which was partially filled with water from recent flooding. Further complicating the scene were power lines three lines carrying a combined total of 21,600 volts were dangling precariously only four feet off of the ground and almost directly over the patient. Della Rice, a nurse living across the road, heard the crash and was the first to arrive. Fearing the driver would regain consciousness and inadvertently hit the power lines, she crawled under the lines and began helping the man. With a flashlight she could see that he had head injuries. Additional rescuers arrived. Nearly all of them recall hearing shouts of warning about the downed power lines. Robert Good, the first paramedic on the scene with Rural Metro and a friend of Rice, was clearly aware of the danger and advised the nurse to “just watch those lines.” Good returned to his ambulance for more equipment, bringing the medic gear, oxygen and a plastic backboard to the victim. Concerned for the safety of his partner, Shannon Kisner, Good ordered her to remain on the road and off the grass. Then, Good carefully crawled under the still-energized power lines, joining at least four other rescuers in an attempt to extricate the now-combative patient. Eventually, nine people were in or close to the water-filled ditch trying to treat the motorist and secure him to the backboard. As fire and EMS personnel tried to figure which was the safest way back out to the road, another power line from the severed pole was found. Fearing that line also was energized, the rescuers decided to go under the dangling lines instead of stepping over them or walking what was thought to be an unreasonable distance through the water-filled ditch and unsafe footing. Rice later told investigators that as the rescuers slid the backboard under the power lines and up the embankment, the restrained patient became even more combative. “There must have been six of us in the water trying to restrain him,” she said. Stooped over and with some rescuers crawling on hands and knees, the patient was slowly inched up the embankment. As he cleared the power lines along with Rice and New Bloomington Fire Lieutenant James Johnson, Good again shouted for everyone to watch out for the power lines and pushed Rice forward toward the roadway and out of harm’s way. Four crosses initially marked the location of the accident that claimed the lives of three rescuers and a motorist. At that moment, Gruber (carrying a flashlight and oxygen bottle) saw (I’ve removed the name as it is not important) who was assisting with the backboard, come in contact with one of the power lines carrying 7,200 volts of electricity. How this happened is unclear () either brushed against the wire or, as some said, the wire fell on him. Everyone in contact with the backboard or close to it received the electrical shock. Gruber later told investigators, “Just as I saw him come up, I saw sparks fly and I instinctively dropped the bottle and backed up.” Jeff Beck, another EMS responder at the scene, stated, “I stepped back and then saw a big spark. Everyone stood up and froze until the arcing stopped. Then they just fell down.” In the moments that followed, Rice, Beck, Kisner and others at the scene retrieved the fallen rescuers and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). “It was a nightmare, a complete tragedy,” Rice said. “Everybody’s life changed in a split second. We just went from one to another, giving CPR.” Gruber, who was directly behind the critically injured () and blocked in by power lines on three sides, sat with the disoriented and injured New Bloomington Fire Chief Scott Eckard to keep him from stumbling into the power lines and causing a secondary electrocution a position they kept until the electricity was shut off by the power company personnel. Gruber’s frantic call for help brought additional medic, fire and helicopter responses from four departments but it was too late for four of the would-be rescuers. Killed were Good, 30, who also was a lieutenant with the Battle Run Fire District; Johnson, 63; New Bloomington Firefighter Charles Rudd, 21 of the New Bloomington Fire Department; and the motorist. Injured were: Eckard, 35; Gruber, 22; Rice, 38; Roshon, 25; and New Bloomington Firefighters Jeffery McCormack, 23, and Michael Price, 20. After investigators determined that the motorist was intoxicated at the time of the accident, his cross was moved away from those of the rescuers and placed farther down the road. Investigations by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department determined that the driver of the truck had a blood alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit. “This entire incident was caused by the actions of a drunken driver hitting a utility pole,” Marion County Sheriff John Butterworth said. “If he had been sober, they would have been with us today.” Official investigations also found: The electrocution was accidental. No caregiver at the scene acted in a manner that was negligent, arbitrary or unnecessary. To the contrary, the emergency care given appeared to be in a manner consistent with proper rescue procedures and emergency medical care. In the case of the reported efforts by Good and Rice, the intervention between them may have saved Rice’s life. The use of a non-conductive backboard indicates that Good tried to minimize the danger. In the days that followed the tragedy, hundreds of firefighters, law enforcement and EMS personnel, and friends from around Ohio made their way to the small communities of Prospect, New Bloomington and LaRue to help bid goodbye to fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, friends and volunteers who were willing to sacrifice their lives to save another.
Sources: Marion County Sheriff’s Department and The Marion Star/Dave Breeding
Charles A. Rudd was born 19 November 1975. His parents are Charles E. Rudd & Penny Dewitt. James was serving as a Lieutenant with the New Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department. Charles graduated from Elgin High School. He enjoyed playing baseball and football while attending Elgin. He was employed at Cascade Door. On the night of 5 June 1997, he and two other rescuers gave their lives, in the line of duty, to save a patient. The rescuers, knowing the dangers that existed at the scene made calculated risks to make attempts at removing a patient from a dangerous scene. Unfortunately Lt. Rudd, Lt. Robert D. Good and Lt. James H. Johnson died in the line of duty. Charles A. Rudd is buried in the LaRue Cemetery, LaRue, Ohio. Charles A. Rudd is remembered on the Marion County Firefighters Memorial located at the front of the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Thank you to the Marion Firefighters Memorial for writing up the following, to recognize the rescuers who gave their lives in an attempt to save a patient and to recognize those who will forever be affected by these events.
Lieutenant Robert Good Battle Run Fire District & Rural Metro EMS Lieutenant James Johnson New Bloomington Fire Department Firefighter Charles Rudd New Bloomington Fire Department 25 years ago today Marion County tragically lost 3 responders. Please take a moment and read. Watch yourselves and others on scene. And don’t drink and drive. “Code 10, Code 10, we need five, we need at least five squads now; we have people down.” The frantic radio transmission from Marion County, OH, Sheriff’s Deputy B.J. Gruber was the first indication that something terribly wrong had occurred at the scene of what should have been a routine transport. Shortly after 10 P.M. on June 5, 1997, the New Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department along with a medic ambulance from Rural Metro/EMS were dispatched to a cell-phone report of a motor vehicle accident on a country road with wires reported down. Sources: Marion County Sheriff’s Department and The Marion Star/Dave Breeding As fire, law enforcement and EMS personnel arrived, they surveyed the scene that lay before them. A pickup truck driven by a 28-year-old man had traveled off the right side of the road, severing a high-voltage power pole and coming to rest against approximately 100 feet farther down the road. The semi-conscious driver was lying in the ditch beside his truck, which was partially filled with water from recent flooding. Further complicating the scene were power lines three lines carrying a combined total of 21,600 volts were dangling precariously only four feet off of the ground and almost directly over the patient. Della Rice, a nurse living across the road, heard the crash and was the first to arrive. Fearing the driver would regain consciousness and inadvertently hit the power lines, she crawled under the lines and began helping the man. With a flashlight she could see that he had head injuries. Additional rescuers arrived. Nearly all of them recall hearing shouts of warning about the downed power lines. Robert Good, the first paramedic on the scene with Rural Metro and a friend of Rice, was clearly aware of the danger and advised the nurse to “just watch those lines.” Good returned to his ambulance for more equipment, bringing the medic gear, oxygen and a plastic backboard to the victim. Concerned for the safety of his partner, Shannon Kisner, Good ordered her to remain on the road and off the grass. Then, Good carefully crawled under the still-energized power lines, joining at least four other rescuers in an attempt to extricate the now-combative patient. Eventually, nine people were in or close to the water-filled ditch trying to treat the motorist and secure him to the backboard. As fire and EMS personnel tried to figure which was the safest way back out to the road, another power line from the severed pole was found. Fearing that line also was energized, the rescuers decided to go under the dangling lines instead of stepping over them or walking what was thought to be an unreasonable distance through the water-filled ditch and unsafe footing. Rice later told investigators that as the rescuers slid the backboard under the power lines and up the embankment, the restrained patient became even more combative. “There must have been six of us in the water trying to restrain him,” she said. Stooped over and with some rescuers crawling on hands and knees, the patient was slowly inched up the embankment. As he cleared the power lines along with Rice and New Bloomington Fire Lieutenant James Johnson, Good again shouted for everyone to watch out for the power lines and pushed Rice forward toward the roadway and out of harm’s way. Four crosses initially marked the location of the accident that claimed the lives of three rescuers and a motorist. At that moment, Gruber (carrying a flashlight and oxygen bottle) saw (I’ve removed the name as it is not important) who was assisting with the backboard, come in contact with one of the power lines carrying 7,200 volts of electricity. How this happened is unclear () either brushed against the wire or, as some said, the wire fell on him. Everyone in contact with the backboard or close to it received the electrical shock. Gruber later told investigators, “Just as I saw him come up, I saw sparks fly and I instinctively dropped the bottle and backed up.” Jeff Beck, another EMS responder at the scene, stated, “I stepped back and then saw a big spark. Everyone stood up and froze until the arcing stopped. Then they just fell down.” In the moments that followed, Rice, Beck, Kisner and others at the scene retrieved the fallen rescuers and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). “It was a nightmare, a complete tragedy,” Rice said. “Everybody’s life changed in a split second. We just went from one to another, giving CPR.” Gruber, who was directly behind the critically injured () and blocked in by power lines on three sides, sat with the disoriented and injured New Bloomington Fire Chief Scott Eckard to keep him from stumbling into the power lines and causing a secondary electrocution a position they kept until the electricity was shut off by the power company personnel. Gruber’s frantic call for help brought additional medic, fire and helicopter responses from four departments but it was too late for four of the would-be rescuers. Killed were Good, 30, who also was a lieutenant with the Battle Run Fire District; Johnson, 63; New Bloomington Firefighter Charles Rudd, 21 of the New Bloomington Fire Department; and the motorist. Injured were: Eckard, 35; Gruber, 22; Rice, 38; Roshon, 25; and New Bloomington Firefighters Jeffery McCormack, 23, and Michael Price, 20. After investigators determined that the motorist was intoxicated at the time of the accident, his cross was moved away from those of the rescuers and placed farther down the road. Investigations by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department determined that the driver of the truck had a blood alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit. “This entire incident was caused by the actions of a drunken driver hitting a utility pole,” Marion County Sheriff John Butterworth said. “If he had been sober, they would have been with us today.” Official investigations also found: The electrocution was accidental. No caregiver at the scene acted in a manner that was negligent, arbitrary or unnecessary. To the contrary, the emergency care given appeared to be in a manner consistent with proper rescue procedures and emergency medical care. In the case of the reported efforts by Good and Rice, the intervention between them may have saved Rice’s life. The use of a non-conductive backboard indicates that Good tried to minimize the danger. In the days that followed the tragedy, hundreds of firefighters, law enforcement and EMS personnel, and friends from around Ohio made their way to the small communities of Prospect, New Bloomington and LaRue to help bid goodbye to fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, friends and volunteers who were willing to sacrifice their lives to save another.
Sources: Marion County Sheriff’s Department and The Marion Star/Dave Breeding
Robert Douglas Good was born on 2 July 1966. His parents are Robert A. Good & Carol (Middlemiss) Birchfield. Robert served in the United States Navy, for four years. He attained the rating of Patternmaker Petty Officer 3rd Class. Robert was working at Marion General Hospital and volunteering as a paramedic and firefighter with Battlerun Volunteer Fire Department (Prospect, Ohio). There he served as a Lieutenant (Lt.). On the night of 5 June 1997, he and two other rescuers; Lieutenant James H. Johnson and Lieutenant Charles A. Rudd of the New Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department, gave their life in an attempt to save an injured man from a motor vehicle accident. They were tragically killed by electrocution, while in the heroic attempts to remove the patient from a dangerous location. Lt. Robert D. Good made several attempts to warn his fellow rescuers of the dangers at the scene and reduce the number of rescuers in the immediate area of the downed lines. His attempts appear to have reduced the number of casualties that night. Unfortunately, he and two other rescuers lost their lives in the line of duty. The patient also died. While other lives were saved by Lt. Good’s management of the scene, they will forever be affected by the events of that night. Lt. Robert D. Good died in the line of duty on 6 June 1997. He left behind a son and daughter; as well as his parents and siblings; and many other close relatives and friends. Robert D. Good is buried in the Prospect Cemetery, Prospect, Ohio. Robert D. Good is remembered with his fellow rescuers on the Marion County Firefighters Memorial in the front of the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Thank you to the Marion Firefighters Memorial for writing up the following, to recognize the rescuers who gave their lives in an attempt to save a patient and to recognize those who will forever be affected by these events.
Lieutenant Robert Good Battle Run Fire District & Rural Metro EMS Lieutenant James Johnson New Bloomington Fire Department Firefighter Charles Rudd New Bloomington Fire Department 25 years ago today Marion County tragically lost 3 responders. Please take a moment and read. Watch yourselves and others on scene. And don’t drink and drive. “Code 10, Code 10, we need five, we need at least five squads now; we have people down.” The frantic radio transmission from Marion County, OH, Sheriff’s Deputy B.J. Gruber was the first indication that something terribly wrong had occurred at the scene of what should have been a routine transport. Shortly after 10 P.M. on June 5, 1997, the New Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department along with a medic ambulance from Rural Metro/EMS were dispatched to a cell-phone report of a motor vehicle accident on a country road with wires reported down. Sources: Marion County Sheriff’s Department and The Marion Star/Dave Breeding As fire, law enforcement and EMS personnel arrived, they surveyed the scene that lay before them. A pickup truck driven by a 28-year-old man had traveled off the right side of the road, severing a high-voltage power pole and coming to rest against approximately 100 feet farther down the road. The semi-conscious driver was lying in the ditch beside his truck, which was partially filled with water from recent flooding. Further complicating the scene were power lines three lines carrying a combined total of 21,600 volts were dangling precariously only four feet off of the ground and almost directly over the patient. Della Rice, a nurse living across the road, heard the crash and was the first to arrive. Fearing the driver would regain consciousness and inadvertently hit the power lines, she crawled under the lines and began helping the man. With a flashlight she could see that he had head injuries. Additional rescuers arrived. Nearly all of them recall hearing shouts of warning about the downed power lines. Robert Good, the first paramedic on the scene with Rural Metro and a friend of Rice, was clearly aware of the danger and advised the nurse to “just watch those lines.” Good returned to his ambulance for more equipment, bringing the medic gear, oxygen and a plastic backboard to the victim. Concerned for the safety of his partner, Shannon Kisner, Good ordered her to remain on the road and off the grass. Then, Good carefully crawled under the still-energized power lines, joining at least four other rescuers in an attempt to extricate the now-combative patient. Eventually, nine people were in or close to the water-filled ditch trying to treat the motorist and secure him to the backboard. As fire and EMS personnel tried to figure which was the safest way back out to the road, another power line from the severed pole was found. Fearing that line also was energized, the rescuers decided to go under the dangling lines instead of stepping over them or walking what was thought to be an unreasonable distance through the water-filled ditch and unsafe footing. Rice later told investigators that as the rescuers slid the backboard under the power lines and up the embankment, the restrained patient became even more combative. “There must have been six of us in the water trying to restrain him,” she said. Stooped over and with some rescuers crawling on hands and knees, the patient was slowly inched up the embankment. As he cleared the power lines along with Rice and New Bloomington Fire Lieutenant James Johnson, Good again shouted for everyone to watch out for the power lines and pushed Rice forward toward the roadway and out of harm’s way. Four crosses initially marked the location of the accident that claimed the lives of three rescuers and a motorist. At that moment, Gruber (carrying a flashlight and oxygen bottle) saw (I’ve removed the name as it is not important) who was assisting with the backboard, come in contact with one of the power lines carrying 7,200 volts of electricity. How this happened is unclear () either brushed against the wire or, as some said, the wire fell on him. Everyone in contact with the backboard or close to it received the electrical shock. Gruber later told investigators, “Just as I saw him come up, I saw sparks fly and I instinctively dropped the bottle and backed up.” Jeff Beck, another EMS responder at the scene, stated, “I stepped back and then saw a big spark. Everyone stood up and froze until the arcing stopped. Then they just fell down.” In the moments that followed, Rice, Beck, Kisner and others at the scene retrieved the fallen rescuers and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). “It was a nightmare, a complete tragedy,” Rice said. “Everybody’s life changed in a split second. We just went from one to another, giving CPR.” Gruber, who was directly behind the critically injured () and blocked in by power lines on three sides, sat with the disoriented and injured New Bloomington Fire Chief Scott Eckard to keep him from stumbling into the power lines and causing a secondary electrocution a position they kept until the electricity was shut off by the power company personnel. Gruber’s frantic call for help brought additional medic, fire and helicopter responses from four departments but it was too late for four of the would-be rescuers. Killed were Good, 30, who also was a lieutenant with the Battle Run Fire District; Johnson, 63; New Bloomington Firefighter Charles Rudd, 21 of the New Bloomington Fire Department; and the motorist. Injured were: Eckard, 35; Gruber, 22; Rice, 38; Roshon, 25; and New Bloomington Firefighters Jeffery McCormack, 23, and Michael Price, 20. After investigators determined that the motorist was intoxicated at the time of the accident, his cross was moved away from those of the rescuers and placed farther down the road. Investigations by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department determined that the driver of the truck had a blood alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit. “This entire incident was caused by the actions of a drunken driver hitting a utility pole,” Marion County Sheriff John Butterworth said. “If he had been sober, they would have been with us today.” Official investigations also found: The electrocution was accidental. No caregiver at the scene acted in a manner that was negligent, arbitrary or unnecessary. To the contrary, the emergency care given appeared to be in a manner consistent with proper rescue procedures and emergency medical care. In the case of the reported efforts by Good and Rice, the intervention between them may have saved Rice’s life. The use of a non-conductive backboard indicates that Good tried to minimize the danger. In the days that followed the tragedy, hundreds of firefighters, law enforcement and EMS personnel, and friends from around Ohio made their way to the small communities of Prospect, New Bloomington and LaRue to help bid goodbye to fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, friends and volunteers who were willing to sacrifice their lives to save another.
Sources: Marion County Sheriff’s Department and The Marion Star/Dave Breeding
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 