An 18-year-old volunteer firefighter responding to a medical call died in a wreck Friday, a week before he was scheduled to graduate from Belton-Honea Path High School.
At 6 a.m. Friday, Michael Martin and several other Ebenezer station volunteer firefighters heard a 911 medical call to help a Wright School Road resident having chest pains.
As he had for three years, Mr. Martin climbed into his truck and headed out. But as he passed 2812 Wright School Road, where Jack Nichols and his wife live, Mr. Martin lost control of the 2004 red Ford Ranger pickup he bought last week. It slammed into two trees, killing him instantly.
Firefighters behind Mr. Martin responding to the same call stopped at the wreck. It took a few minutes for them to realize someone they all knew was inside the truck, station chief Rodney Lowe said.
"We answer these calls, day in, day out," the chief said. "But it
