Town & Country Fire District Firefighter Lt. Philip M. Wigal, 35, was killed and a Ohio State trooper is in serious condition after being struck while working an accident scene on Interstate 71 near West Salem.
On Monday afternoon, Troopers and Town & Country Fire District firefighters were dispatched to a single vehicle, minor injury crash.
While the trooper and firefighters were completing documentation for their report, a southbound semi-truck struck the left rear of the fire engine on scene, according to a press release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
After striking the engine, the semi struck the patrol cruiser and the original vehicle that was involved in the crash. The firefighter and trooper, who were still at the original vehicle, were struck at that time. Wigal was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Wigal began his career with the Town & Country Fire District in August of 2006 as a part-time firefighter. In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and in May of 2014 he was hired full-time, according to the Town & Country Fire District Chief Adam Hory.
The trooper is identified as Steven B. Hill, 37, from the Patrol’s Ashland Post. He was transported from the scene with non-life-threatening injuries.
