HAYS COUNTY, Texas — A firefighter was fired Thursday after posting on social media photos of a crash that killed one and left three others injured.
Following an internal investigation, officials concluded the firefighter posted the photos of the crash that killed Devin Dienst 16, and left his 17-year-old brother Derek and two other teens seriously injured.
Hays County Emergency Services released the following statement regarding the incident: “On behalf of its commissioners, paid staff, and volunteer personnel, the District expresses its most sincere and deepest sympathy and condolences to the relatives and friends whose family members were affected by the accident and this incident,” the agency said in a statement. “The District also wants to convey its sincerest apologies for the intentional and wrongful actions of this terminated individual, and reiterate this type of behavior is not and will not be tolerated or condoned by the District.”
The mother of one of Dienst’s classmates, Sara Kirkpatrick Dishman, reported the firefighter to county officials after one of Dienst’s cousins saw the crash photos on Snapchat.
“He needed to be held accountable.… His posts were horrific. He was ‘showing off’ on SnapChat,” Dishman told the University Star.
The photos posted included one of Dienst’s body at the scene of the crash.
Dishman identified the firefighter as Josh Lawrence.