During a controlled burn Thursday, a firefighter with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service was struck and killed by a vehicle on a road with reduced visibility because of smoke.
According to a news report published by the Hunterdon County Democrat and N.J.com, Jeff Scheuerer, 35, was struck while conducting a controlled burn near Round Valley Reservoir and did not survive injuries he suffered.
The collision happened on Stanton-Lebanon Road (Route 629) late Thursday morning when heavy smoke may have reduced visibility during shifting winds during a controlled burn along the route, according to the newspaper report.
Responders from Clinton Rescue Squad and Clinton Township were summoned to the scene at about 11:30 a.m. Paramedics from the Hunterdon Medical Center also responded.
The incident is under investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Collision Team and Clinton police.
In addition to his career work with the forest service, Scheuerer was also a long-time volunteer with the Readington Fire Company and a resident Raritan Township.
