The Verona Volunteer Fire Department is mourning the loss of a firefighter who died after responding to a call Friday night.
Johnny Goines, 69, responded to a motor vehicle accident around 10:45 p.m. with the fire department.
Onslow County officials told WITN.com that another call came in about 11:05 p.m. for a car off the road and into a ditch.
Firefighters from Verona Volunteer Fire Department responded, along with Onslow County Emergency Medical Services and they found Goines unresponsive in the vehicle.
Goines joined the Verona Volunteer Fire Department in 1975 and was a fixture at all events.
“Johnny was dedicated to his fire department and to the Verona community. He was always quick to lend a hand and he brought a sense of joy and comradery to our department that will be sorely missed," Chief Toby Thomas said in a statement. "He operated a landscaping business and even took care of some of our elderly residents’ yards for free because that’s the kind of guy he was.”
Visitation will be held Nov. 27, from 1 - 2 p.m. at Verona Baptist Church. The funeral begins at 2 p.m.
