Memphis police are investigating an accident that killed a Memphis firefighter Friday morning. It happened at Stage Road and Austin Peay. Investigators say Lt. Bennie Shields was driving his truck, when he crossed the center line and ran into another car.
The driver of the car is in critical condition. Shields then crashed into the side of a building. He died later at Methodist North hospital. Investigators don't know what caused Shields to lose control of his truck.
Shields was on the way home after his overnight shift. Firefighters throughout Memphis are mourning Bennie Shields' tragic death. Friday was a tough day for firefighters. Bennie Shields made a lot of friends during his 31 years as a fireman. And co-workers said that Shields was dedicated to his work.
Grieving firemen leafed through a Memphis Firefighter yearbook, looking for Bennie Shields' picture after learning he died. "And it's just unexpected." Unexpected, especially for some of the last co-workers to see Shields alive. Firefighter Randy Churchill said, "As a matter of fact, I talked to him this morning as he was getting ready to go and the last thing he says - as always (is) you all have a good day." Co-workers remember a lot of "good days" with Shields. "He loves to cook, he loves to cook, and his favorite was fried chicken."
Fire Lt. Eddie Morrison said, "I mean he was a stand up guy, I mean easy to work with." Morrison said Shields worked with him at station 47 before Shields transferred several blocks away to station 46 last October. In a strange twist of fate, it was Morrison and others from his station who were dispatched to Shields accident scene. "When we got on the scene we didn't realize that it was a firefighter until we got there, and once we realized it was a firefighter and someone that was part of our family we really took it hard." And some coworkers are still taking it hard. "You never know when it's your time to go."
Fireman Shields is survived by a wife, kids.
