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Funeral, Visitation Information Now Added Below
DAVE J. IANNONE
Firehouse.Com Senior Editor
A veteran Chicago Fire Lieutenant was killed and a
second firefighter listed in critical condition when a ladder
truck responding to a false alarm on Saturday, Apr. 29 was broadsided by a truck that failed
to yield the right-of-way at a four-way stop intersection, officials said. Twelve
other people were injured, including three firefighters.
Chicago Fire Department Photo
Fire Lieutenant L. C. Merrell
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Fire Lieutenant L. C. Merrell and Firefighter Rodney Sevier was ejected from
their unit when it was broadsided by a landscape truck in an intersection, officials said.
Merrell, the unit's officer, was pronounced dead a short
time after being transported to Christ Hospital. Sevier was listed in fair condition
Monday at the same hospital with multiple injuries, police said.
A third firefighter was released from an area hospital Sunday and the two others
were treated and released with minor injuries on Saturday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
At least nine civlians were injured, none seriously.
Merrell, 43, was an 18-year veteran who is survived by his wife and four children. Their
ages were not immediately available early Sunday. He
According to officials, Truck Company 24 was returning from a response when it was
dispatched on an automatic alarm call shortly before Noon on the city's South Side.
The unit had slowed down as it approached a four-way
stop at the intersection of 107th and Throop Streets. The landscape truck went through
a stop sign, and broadsided the responding unit on the front passenger side.
"There's no criminal negligence, it's just a terrible accident," Sgt. Matthew
Brown of the Chicago Police Department's Major Accident Investigation Unit told
Firehouse.Com News early Sunday.
The driver of the landscape truck, 56-year-old Isac Zepeda, was issued three
traffic citations, including disobeying a stop sign, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and failure to
properly wear a seat belt. More serious charges would not be filed in connection
with Merrell's death, Brown said. Six people were travelling in the pickup truck, reports
said.
A third vehicle was also involved in the crash. Witnesses in that vehicle
told the Chicago Sun-Times that the pickup truck ignored the stop sign.
Officials said they did not know if the firefighters had been wearing the seat belts, the
Chicago Sun-Times reported. City regulations require that emergency units have control
of an intersection before going through.
"The fire truck slowed down, but it was a four way stop and they had their
emergency lights on," Brown said. "[The lights] are a request for a right-of-way
to go through, not automatic, but in this case [the fire truck] was already in the
middle of the intersection when [it] was [struck]."
Grief counselors were called in to assist those who worked with Merrell and
his crew deal with the tragedy. Firefighters were keeping vigil at Christ Hospital for
those still hospitalized.
Funeral and Related Information
- Visitation
Friday, May 5
Noon - 8 PM
Leak & Sons Funeral Home
7838 South Cottage Grove
Chicago
- Funeral Service
Saturday, May 6
Visitation - 10 AM
Funeral Service - 11 AM
Metropolitan Community Church
4100 S. King Drive
Chicago
- Internment
Lincoln Cemetary
12300 South Kedzie Avenue
Related Links
Chicago Fire Lieutenant Killed; Firefighter Critical and 12 Others Injured in Collision