St. Louis Post-Dispatch
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — A longtime volunteer firefighter died early Sunday as he sped to the scene of a structure fire in Portage des Sioux, officials said.
Larry Lawhorn, 60, suffered a medical problem about 2 a.m., as he was headed northbound on Highway J. The tanker truck he was driving left the roadway and came to rest in a field. He was alone in the truck.
Lawhorn had been responding to a structure fire in the 1600 block of Second Street. No one was hurt in the blaze.
Lawhorn was discovered by other emergency responders as they left the fire call. Despite resuscitation efforts by firefighters and paramedics, Lawhorn did not survive. He later was pronounced dead on-scene.
“Line-of-duty deaths are difficult for any agency, but this hits particularly hard in a small, close-knit organization like ours,” said Orchard Farm Fire Protection District Chief Jeremey Hollrah. “Larry was a hardworking, dedicated member of the fire district, and his loss will be mourned not only by his colleagues, but the community at large.”
Lawhorn had a long career in fire protection, serving with St. Charles Fire Department prior to volunteering for Orchard Farm. Arrangements are pending with Baue Funeral Home in St. Charles
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