By FireRescue1 Staff
PELLA, Iowa — Firefighters and police officers escorted a fallen firefighter, who died in a car crash Friday night, home.
Firefighter James Franciskovich, 52, was traveling with two other firefighters to a training exercise when their fire department vehicle overturned. Franciskovich died of his injuries after he was ejected from the vehicle; he was not wearing a seat belt.
Pella firefighters set up fire trucks not far from the crash site as Franciskovich was escorted home Sunday.
“We are definitely a brotherhood and that’s a lot bigger than just our department — that’s all departments linked together in that way,” Pella Fire Capt. Randy Bogaard told KNIA/KRLS. “For us, it probably hit even harder people because our people responded to the accident scene itself, it was in our jurisdiction.”
Franciskovich served the West Burlington Fire Department for 15 years; he also served 20 years in the Army, reported KWQC. He will receive full military honors during his funeral, which is scheduled for March 3.
He leaves behind his wife and four children.
https://www.facebook.com/172James414/posts/10155045424851810