Rosetown firefighter killed while responding to Hwy 4 crash

A volunteer firefighter from Rosetown has died in the line of duty after responding to a crash on Highway 4 Wednesday morning.

RCMP said no one was injured in the initial collision between two semi trucks on Highway 4 approximately 22 kilometres north of Rosetown around 9 a.m.

However, 46-year-old Darrell James Morrison was struck by a passing semi while he was assisting at the scene of the initial crash.

According to the release from RCMP, life-saving efforts were made by Morrison’s colleagues but he died shortly after being transported to hospital.

Rosetown’s volunteer fire department has 20 members.

The town’s mayor, Adam Krieser, said Morrison was a man who always had a smile on his face.

“He seemed like a guy who liked to have fun, a pleasant guy and always had a smile on his face in the little I did know of him,” Krieser said.

“Unfortunately I won’t get to know him better now.”

He noted Rosetown has endured a difficult year, with several tragic deaths on the highways around town. Five members of the Gasper family were killed in June after their vehicle collided head-on with another vehicle on Highway 4 south of the town.

“It’s been a tough go here,” he said.

“It just seems so needless.”

Krieser added it’s difficult to see a volunteer first responder lose his life while trying to help.

“They’ll jump out of bed, jump up from their desk, they’ll jump out from under whatever piece of equipment they’re working on to go rush to the scene,” he said.

“It’s such a tragedy.”

‘RIP brother’

News of the firefighter’s death spread quickly among first responders in the province, with many sending thoughts and prayers to the affected family and friends on social media.

“The Saskatchewan Fire Service is heartbroken today,” wrote the Saskatchewan Fire Chiefs Twitter account.

“We all share in the burden of your loss and hope this is a small measure of comfort to the family, colleagues, friends and community.”

The Saskatchewan Fire Service is heartbroken today as we learn of the line of duty death this morning of a member of the Rosetown Fire Department. We all share in the burden of your loss and hope this is a small measure of comfort to the family, colleagues, friends and community. pic.twitter.com/De0BDXzgwO

— Sask Fire Chiefs (@SAFChiefs) November 21, 2018

“RIP brother you have served with pride,” wrote Kindersley Fire on Facebook. “We will take it from here.”

Highway 4 remains closed for the investigation into the crash.