Two volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania were killed when a car driven by a man who authorities say was high on marijuana and crack veered off the road and struck them head‑on. The incident occurred on April 4, 2026, in Berks County, as the firefighters were helping search for a missing woman.
Who was killed
- Jeffory Buck, 60, chief of the Walnuttown Fire Company, and Robert R. Shick Jr., 56, its assistant chief, were riding in a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) on the shoulder of Route 222 (Kutztown Road) near Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.
- First responders were searching for a missing 60‑year‑old woman in the area, and members of the Walnuttown Fire Company were assisting in the search.
What happened in the crash
- Authorities say Alexander Sepulveda Rivera, 26, was driving a Toyota Camry that was “weaving back and forth on the roadway” before he left his lane and drove onto the shoulder, striking the UTV head‑on.
- Rivera and another passenger fled the scene immediately, but witnesses helped police apprehend them nearby.
- Rivera was read his Miranda rights and admitted he was driving, said he had “fallen asleep,” and admitted he had smoked marijuana the same day; he was also found with a crack pipe that he acknowledged as his.
Charges and background
- Rivera now faces:
- Two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence
- Two counts of homicide by vehicle (accidents involving death)
- DUI and related offenses
- The Berks County DA also noted that Rivera did not have a driver’s license and may never have had one. Rivera submitted to a blood test, and no charges or suspicions were mentioned for the passenger in his car.
Community reaction
- The Walnuttown Fire Company wrote on Facebook, “Rest easy chiefs, we got it from here,” in tribute to Buck and Shick.
- Pennsylvania State Senator Chris Gebhard called the deaths “tragic” and said the two men “gave their lives in the line of duty,” offering condolences to their families, fellow firefighters, and the community.
