An 18-wheeler struck and killed a firefighter from the Town and Country Fire District in West Salem at a crash scene Monday on I-71 South in Wayne County.
Fire Lieutenant Philip M. Wigal, 35, was assisting with cleanup following a motor vehicle accident when the truck plowed through the accident scene striking a fire truck, patrol car and another car that was involved in the prior accident.
Wigal and Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Steven B. Hill, 37, were finishing a scene inventory and paperwork at about 4 p.m. when the accident occurred. Hill was taken from the scene with non-life threatening injuries. Wigal was flown to a hospital for treatment but did not survive his injuries.
The driver of the commercial vehicle, 41-year-old Edyt Hernandez of Florida, was taken to an area hospital for minor injuries.
Wigal joined Town and Country Fire District in 2006 as a part-time firefighter. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2011 and hired full-time in 2014. He is survived by his wife and two children, WKYC reports.
