NC firefighter hurt in crash released from hospital

Timothy Scott Lassiter is under orders to do nothing but rest; fellow firefighter Michael Perry was killed in the wreck

July 02, 2015 09:36 AM

News & Record

BURLINGTON, N.C. — As one injured firefighter has been released from the hospital, funeral arrangements have been set for another.

Burlington firefighter Michael “Mike” Braxton Perry, 24, of Deep Creek Church Road in Burlington was killed last Sunday in a wreck on McCray Road, according to the Highway Patrol.

Perry’s passenger, fellow firefighter Timothy “Scott” Lassiter Jr., 21, of Graham, was critically injured.

Lassiter was released from UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill Tuesday night, said Michael Willets, Burlington Fire Department deputy chief.

“He’s under orders to do nothing but rest,” Willets said. “He’s to have limited visitors. We’re unsure when he’ll return to duty.”

Perry was driving a 1968 Chevy 70 mph in a 50 mph zone when he drove off the road on the right near a curve and over-corrected, said Sgt. Michael McLamb with the Highway Patrol. Perry then went off the road on the left and struck a tree and a guide wire before hitting a parked semi-trailer.

McLamb said Perry was not wearing a seatbelt. It’s still unclear if Lassiter was wearing the lapbelt that was in the car.

Perry’s funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at The Lamb’s Chapel, at 415 Roxboro Road in Haw River, followed by burial at Alamance Memorial Park in Burlington, according to his obituary.

Willets said the fire department will have a fire truck in the funeral procession, and as many of the department’s 90 firefighters as possible will be in attendance.

“We still have to be able to provide service for the city,” Willets said. “Other fire departments in the county will assist us with that.”

Perry has been with the Burlington Fire Department since March 2014. This year he received a certificate of commendation for lifesaving, Willets said. The commendation recognized that a man’s life was saved by Perry and another firefighter.

The man was in town for the Senior Games when he had a cardiac issue, Willets said. Perry and the other firefighter performed CPR on the man, saving his life.