By Alex Lang
The Dominion Post
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown firefighter was killed in a Wednesday morning accident.
It is a loss for his family and the fire department brotherhood.
“It’s just like losing a family member,” Morgantown Fire Chief Mark Caravasos said.
Vanden King, 41, was killed in a two-vehicle wreck on U.S. 119, near the intersection with Interstate 68.
According to the Morgantown Police Department: Officers were called to the reported wreck at about 9:45 a.m.
The preliminary investigation determined King was driving an Audi sedan south on U.S. 119. A Ford F-350 pickup truck, driven by Harold Lipscomb, 67, was driving North. Lipscomb tried to turn left to the interstate on-ramp when his truck struck King’s car on the driver’s side.
King was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lipscomb, of Bruceton Mills, was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Caravasos said he learned about King from other firefighters at the scene. King had finished a shift with the department just hours before the wreck.
“I was just shocked,” Caravasos said “What do you do?”
The department responds to wrecks daily, but it really strikes home when it’s one of their own, Caravasos said. He said it is like losing one of their brothers, as everyone in the department works closely with one another.
“Vanden was a great kid,” said Caravasos, who had King on his truck when he was a captain.
King was a long-time member of the fire department and was a firefighter first class and drove a truck, Caravasos said.
King leaves behind a wife, Carla, and three kids. Caravasos said Wednesday was his daughter’s 13th birthday.
“The family is tore up, of course,” Caravasos said.
Most days Carla would bring the children by the station and King’s interaction with them was very natural, Caravasos said. He added the kids became part of the firefighting family.
King was also into drones and Caravasos said the two discussed using the developing technology at the department.
In addition to serving as a firefighter, King had a successful photography business, Caravasos said. Sony flew King to various locations to take photos, he said.
Caravasos said they will honor the family’s wishes with regards to funeral plans or honors for King. But, he added, other area fire departments have contacted him wanting to pay their respects.
The Morgantown firefighters were doing OK given the situation, Caravasos said, and grief counselors were available.
“The fire department is hurting today,” he said.
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(c)2016 The Dominion Post (Morgantown, W.Va.)