Age: 55
Additional Info: Whittaker, a resident of the Gloucester community, had been a member of the Marshallberg (N.C.) Fire Department for about three months and in the fire service for about 10 years.
Cause of Death: Just 3.9 miles from the fire, the truck Whittaker was driving went off the left side of the road and struck a tree
Date of Incident: November 14, 2006
By Jannette Pippin
Jacksonville Daily News
HARKERS ISLAND, N.C. — In less than 10 minutes Tuesday morning, a call to a house fire on Harkers Island turned into a tragedy that shook Carteret County’s firefighting community.
Robert Whittaker, 55, a volunteer with Marshallberg Fire Department, died while responding to the fire, which investigators believe was arson, said Carteret County Fire Marshal Eddie Lewis.
“Carteret County has been so fortunate over the years to not have something like this happen,” Lewis said. “It’s been a shock.”
Full Story: N.C. volunteer dies en route to house fire