Biographical Info

Age: 31

Additional Info: Wessels was voted Emergency Medical Services officer of the year by the Hill Country 100 Club, a group that helps survivors of firefighters, police officers and EMS officers wounded or killed in the line of duty.

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Wessels died en route to a reported fire when he lost control of the 1,200-gallon water tanker he was driving. The tanker went off the road, struck a fence and some trees, and caught fire.

Date of Incident: Dec. 11, 2005

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Volunteer who loved Hill Country town is killed in tanker wreck.

By ASHER PRICE
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)

An award-winning volunteer firefighter from the Hill Country community of Briggs died early Sunday as he responded to a reported fire.

Chad Wessels, 31, was traveling east on RM 963 when he lost control of the 1,200-gallon water tanker he was driving about 1:30 a.m., according to the Department of Public Safety.

The tanker, a 1986 GMC flatbed truck, went off the road, struck a fence and some trees, and caught fire. Wessels was pronounced dead at the scene, about 15 miles northeast of Burnet.

Full Story (subscription requirement): http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/12/12firefighter.html