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Ky. firefighter dies after crash while responding to call

The Taylor County firefighter suffered a pulmonary embolism five days after being injured in a crash

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Firefighter Charlie Shaw.

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TAYLOR COUNTY, Ky. — A veteran Taylor County firefighter died days after being injured in a crash while responding to a call.

Taylor County Fire Department Firefighter Charlie Shaw was involved in a crash on April 15 while responding to another accident. Shaw, 78, sustained only minor injuries and returned home, where he later collapsed. He died on April 20, WKYT reported.

According to Supporting Heroes, an autopsy revealed that Shaw developed a blood clot as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The clot led to a pulmonary embolism, becoming lodged in an artery in his lungs and blocking blood flow to part of the lung.

Shaw dedicated nearly six decades to the Taylor County Fire Department, beginning his service as a volunteer firefighter in 1965 and becoming a career firefighter in 1970. Over the years, he also served as the Campbellsville-Taylor County Rescue chief and worked as an area coordinator for the state’s fire rescue training program.

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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.