Duty Death: David Spink - [Barstow]
End of Service: 09/01/2022
Rene Ray De La Cruz
Daily Press
BARSTOW, Calif. — The death of Barstow Fire Protection District firefighter David Spink has left many shaken and in mourning.
Spink died Sunday at Loma Linda University Hospital. His body was later escorted on Sunday to a mortuary in the High Desert.
Firefighters were seen Sunday night on an I-15 overpass in Victorville as they paid tribute to Spink.
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“Our hearts go out to Dave’s family, loved ones, friends and fellow Barstow Fire brothers,” said Barstow Fire Chief Nick DiNapoli, who asked the community to keep the Spink family in prayer and to respect their privacy.
Spink began his career in 1990 as a paid call firefighter in Barstow and was hired full-time two years later. He was promoted to the rank of engineer in 1999.
Spink is survived by his wife, Coleen, his father, Walt and his brothers, Logan and Ryan. He is also survived by his son, Dallen, who is a Barstow firefighter/paramedic, according to Barstow Fire officials.
A service for Spink is pending.
Spink was critically injured on Dec. 5 while he and other firefighters responded to a traffic collision on Interstate 15 in Barstow.
After the collision, BFPD Fire Captain Travis Espinoza told the Daily Press that Spink was airlifted to LLUMC in critical condition, where he later underwent emergency surgery.
Spink, who was an engineer going on 33 years with the BFPD, was with two fellow firefighters when they responded to a traffic collision that occurred shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 5.
The collision, which did not include serious injuries, occurred on I-15, near the point where it crosses over L Street, said Espinoza, who called the area “a very bad spot” for first-responders.
While Spink was working off the roadway and treating patients, “a fast-moving vehicle” on the freeway struck him, Espinoza said.
No other firefighters or bystanders were injured, and fellow firefighters initiated “life-saving measures immediately” and requested additional resources. Espinoza said.
Spink was airlifted by a Mercy Air 66 emergency flight to Loma Linda soon after the collision.
The incident is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol and Barstow Police Department.
The driver of the vehicle that hit Spink remained on scene and no arrests were made, according to CHP spokesman Bradley Walters.
“To my understanding, this was an unfortunate collision” that the driver did not intend to occur, Walters said in an email.
“Dave is a 30-year veteran of the fire department,” said Espinoza in a previous interview. “Very sound in his knowledge, skills and abilities. He is a professional engineer.”
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