MORGANTON, North Carolina — A Burke County firefighter was struck and killed Monday while removing storm debris from the roadway according to The Charlotte Observer.
Firefighters from the Triple Community Fire Department were dispatched around midnight to a part of Highway 70 near the Drexel intersection for a fallen tree blocking the road.
As firefighters were removing the tree and other storm debris, a vehicle traveling east on Highway 70 struck and killed Firefighter Jason Keith Hensley.
The driver, Randall Stewart, was charged by the North Carolina Highway Patrol with driving while impaired, driving without a license, reckless driving, possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and not wearing a seat belt.
Stewart had also allegedly struck two vehicles park at the scene, including Hensley’s personal vehicle which had it emergency lights activated.
