Pitt Township volunteer dies when fire rig overturns

7/9/2008

UPPER SANDUSKY, Ohio A member of the Pitt Township Volunteer Fire Department died Monday night, about two hours after the firetruck he was driving crashed en route to the scene of an injury accident, authorities said.

Richard Kear, 58, of Harpster was pronounced dead about 9:55 p.m. at Grant Memorial Hospital in Columbus, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Mr. Kear was driving on Route 294 to the scene of an injury crash west of U.S. 23 in Wyandot County s Pitt Township about 8 p.m. when the truck veered off the right side of the road and overturned, coming to rest in a culvert. Mr. Kear was thrown from the vehicle.

The only passenger in the truck, Darrin Rowland, also of Harpster, crawled out of the truck and administered first aid to Mr. Kear until emergency crews arrived. Mr. Rowland was treated at Wyandot Memorial Hospital, troopers said.

The cause of the fatal crash was under investigation.

Upper Sandusky is about 60 miles south of Toledo.