ELLENDALE, Del.- An Ellendale volunteer firefighter has been charged in a deadly accident that happened while serving the public.
A Sussex County Grand Jury has indicted James Larrimore Jr. on one misdemeanor charge of operating a motor vehicle causing the death of another. The crash happened back in January, when police said an Ellendale fire truck struck a van, killing Paul Callaway, 84, of Harrington. The firefighters were responding to an alarm when the crash happened.
Police said the Ellendale fire truck was driven by Larrimore. Police said he slowed down at the intersection, but did not stop completely. According to Delaware law, a fire truck driver must come to a complete stop if the driver does not have a clear view of the intersection.
Ron Marvel, a spokesman for the Ellendale Fire Department, said he cannot comment on the arrest because Larrimore has yet to be tried. He said the department has not taken any disciplinary actions against him.
"At the current time he's an active fire fighter responding to alarms," Marvel said. "The Ellendale Fire Department has made some positive steps. In the fact that every member of the department has taken a driver-training course to be sure that their skills are exactly where they need to be."
Marvel told WBOC that Larrimore has not been driving the trucks since the crash.
Meantime, Callaway's daughter, Beverly Geffon, said she has mixed feelings about the arrest, because she knows it was a mistake. She also feels someone should be held responsible for the death of her Dad.
"It's sad all the way around," she said. Callaway was a long-time businessman who owned the Callaway Furniture store located just north of Harrington.
If convicted, Larrimore could face a minimum $1,150 fine and up to 30 months in prison. He is a long-time member of the Ellendale Volunteer Fire department.
