By Karla Ward
Lexington Herald-Leader
MARION COUNTY, Ky. — Two Kentucky firefighters sustained serious injuries when their fire department’s tanker truck crashed while responding to a call Friday afternoon.
The tanker truck from the Raywick Fire Department was en route to help the Loretto Fire Department with a call when it overturned on Ky. 527, Saint Francis Raywick Road, in Marion County at 5:17 p.m., Kentucky State Police said.
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State police said firefighter Brian Hatt, 51, of Raywick, was driving the truck with its emergency equipment activated when the truck dropped off the right shoulder, and the edge of the road collapsed.
Hatt lost control of the truck, which crossed to the left side of the road and flipped after hitting an embankment, state police said.
Hatt was thrown from the vehicle, while another firefighter, Leonard Winkler, 58, of Raywick, was trapped inside.
State police said Hatt was taken by helicopter to the University of Louisville Hospital with life-threatening injuries, and Winkler was taken by helicopter to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital with serious injuries.
A GoFundMe page set up to support Hatt and his family says he has multiple broken bones and a brain injury and is expected to undergo several surgeries. He is a retired Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, the page states.
The Raywick Fire Department said it plans to hold a prayer vigil at 6 p.m. Sunday at 315 Broadway Street in Raywick.
“We appreciate the outpouring of thoughts and prayers and kindly request that you continue to keep them coming,” the department said in a Facebook post.
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