Loss of a Brother

[Greenacres2]

Walkerton firefighter, girlfriend and child die in car crash

Lieutenant Keith Clark, his girlfriend Alice Hudson, and their two daughters were on their way to visit family in Illinois

Posted: 04/30/2006 11:36 pm
Last Updated: 05/01/2006 11:53 am

[ http://www.wndu.com/news/042006/news_49590.php ]

Story filed by NewsCenter16 Reporter
Stephanie Stang

Walkerton, IN - The town of Walkerton is mourning the loss of a volunteer firefighter and EMT.

Sunday morning, a lieutenant in the Walkerton Volunteer Fire Department and two family members, were killed in single car crash along U.S. 6 in LaPorte County.

Two dozen volunteer firefighters at the Walkerton Fire Department are coming together and grieving the loss a fellow firefighter and his two family members.

Lieutenant Keith Clark, his girlfriend Alice Hudson, and their two daughters were on their way to visit family in Illinois when authorities say their car hydroplaned on U.S. 6, spun off the road, and then hit a tree.

Deputy Coroner John Sullivan said Sunday, “If the tree hadn't been there, they might have just ran off the road. But stuff like this you can ‘what if’ it to death. I covered many of these accidents and I’ve been in EMS fire service for 27 years and you can't explain why it happens. It’s just fate.”

Clark, his girlfriend, and their 9-year-old daughter Kelsey were all killed.

However, the youngest daughter, Kirsten, did survive.

Deputy Brian Crail of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department said, “They appeared to be okay at that time. They were flown out on MedPoint.”

LaPorte County Deputy Coroner John Sullivan knew when he found Clark’s pager that he was a firefighter, too.

Explained Sullivan, “It really hits home for me. My main job is a LaPorte City firefighter. When you see the fireman's shirt and his portable and his pager and his badge and you just think, oh know, it's a fireman's death.”

Clark not only volunteered with Walkerton Fire for 12 years, but served as a reserve officer with Hamlet Police, as well as an EMT in Walkerton.

Authorities say all four people in the truck were belted-in and alcohol was not a factor.

However, the rainy weather and curvy road made a trip to see family, deadly.

The only survivor of the day's crash, Kirsten Clark, is listed in good condition at South Bend Memorial Hospital. She was in a child safety seat at the time of the crash.

Walkerton is just up the road from us, and we run mutual aid with them. RIP Keith, we'll miss You.

[cityfire7]

R.I.P. Brother.

Thoughts and prayers to the Walkerton VFD but especially to little Kirsten Clark.

[ndvfdff33]

Tragic to hear this..Especially when theres young people involved..Thoughts and prayers with the family and dept

RIP

[Rubytaylor]

we will love you forever and no matter where you are we know your love will look after you.We shall always pray for his eternal rest in the hands of God.

[Rubytaylor]

Death is an unavoidable part of the cycle of life, yet one is never truly prepared for losing a love one. It's important to keep yourself as busy as possible when overcoming your grief. As you deal with loss, there may be some days when you feel like you have made progress with healing. You will be able to enjoy life again. Hang on to hope, as it is the most important thing you can do.





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