While preparing to leave the scene of an accident, another vehicle struck Firefighter Thomas Royds, two other firefighters from Belmont Hills Fire Company, and one Pennsylvania State Trooper
United States Fire Administration
The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Firefighter Thomas Royds, 48, of the Lower Merion Fire Department/Belmont Hills Fire Company on July 24, 2021.
On Saturday, July 24, 2021, at 3:04 a.m., the Belmont Hills Fire Company and Gladwyne Fire Company were dispatched to a vehicle accident with injuries on Interstate 76. At approximately 3:23 a.m., while preparing to leave the scene of the initial incident, another vehicle struck Firefighter Thomas Royds, two other firefighters from Belmont Hills Fire Company, and one Pennsylvania State Trooper. Multiple EMS units were immediately requested to assist the injured first responders. Firefighter Royds went into cardiac arrest at the scene and was transported by ground ambulance to Paoli Hospital where he passed away. The driver of the vehicle that struck the first responders was taken into custody at the scene after reportedly drinking and driving.
Tribute is being paid to Royds at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/
To date, 63 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2021. Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ff_fatality_reports.html
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
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