A father and son team of Bramwell Volunteer Fire Department firefighters were in an accident with the department’s ATV that killed the younger firefighter.
The rollover happened on July 11 at approximately 1 p.m. on Scenic Ridge Road Tuesday, Fire Chief Aaron Simpkins said in announcing the news via Facebook.
Firefighter James Cleary, Sr. and Firefighter James “Spot” Cleary, Jr. were out examining previous accident scenes on foot when the side-by-side began to roll towards them. They tried to stop the ATV from rolling but it dragged the two over a hill and rolled multiple times.
Both firefighters were transported to hospitals for their injuries and Cleary, Jr., aged 19, passed away at a Charleston hospital overnight. The father has been discharged from a Roanoke hospital.
A Gofundme has been set up to defray the family’s costs.
