YUBA COUNTY, Calif. — A U.S. Forest Service firefighter died Saturday morning after he was struck by a car driven by a fellow member of his firefighting unit.
The Union reported that Michael “Mike” Kelly, 32, sustained major blunt-force trauma to the head and torso and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Andrew Gruenberg, 26, was driving a car transporting six other passengers and an unrelated vehicle reportedly observed a pedestrian lying down in the roadway, according to the report. Gruenberg’s vehicle was designed to carry five passengers.
The driver came to a stop and began flashing his high-beam headlights to signal Gruenberg of the hazard in the roadway ahead, The Union reports. However, Gruenberg failed to stop and ran over firefighter Kelly.
A passenger in his vehicle called 911 to report the collision and the hazard in the roadway. Emergency personnel at the scene determined Gruenberg had run over firefighter Kelly, according to the report.
According to officials, Gruenberg, the passengers in his vehicle, and firefighter Kelly were all employed as firefighters assigned to the Hotshots crew for the U.S. Forest Service.
Alcohol appears to be a factor in the collision, the report stated. No arrests have been made yet pending toxicology results and further examinations.