Zachary Whitacre
Volunteer Firefighter Killed When Truck Crashes With Father Behind The Wheel
GORE, Va. (WUSA) -- A 21-year-old volunteer firefighter from the Gore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company in Virginia was killed early Monday when the 12-hundred gallon tanker truck he was riding on crashed into a bank while fetching water to fight a house fire in neighboring Capon Bridge West Virginia.
Zachary Whitacre was thrown from the rear of the truck, which was being driven by his father Donald Whitacre, according to West Virginia State Police.
The pair had just delivered water to fight a fire on Timber Ridge Road which broke about at about 3:30 a.m. Monday. The Whitakers were going to Capon Bridge to get another load of water when Donald Whitacre lost control on U.S. Route 50 and the truck hit a steep bank. Zach Whitacre was thrown from the rear of the truck, police said. A police press released noted icy conditions at the time.
Zachary Whitacre, a graduate of James Wood High School, was in training to become a full member of the Gore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, a spokesman for the Gore Volunteers said. In addition to his father, his grandfather was also a member of the fire company.
"Everybody is still kind of in shock and dealing with the emotions of it," said fellow volunteer Page Whitacre, who is not related to the victim.