ROCKY MOUNT — Two Rocky Mount firefighters died Monday in a collision involving their fire truck as they responded to a call, Mayor Steve Angle said.
The names of the victims have not been released and Angle declined to identify the men.
"We lost two dedicated public servants," Angle said. "Both were well-known and respected men in the community. It's a devastating blow to Rocky Mount."
The firefighters were the only people aboard the truck when it struck an SUV and rolled over before landing on top of a car, officials said. It was unclear whether anyone in the other vehicles was injured. Calls to the Virginia State Police and Franklin County officials were not immediately returned.
The accident occurred on Old Franklin Turnpike in Franklin County. The truck was on its way to a house fire in Penhook, Franklin County Fire Marshall Bennie Russell said.
Witness Wanda Bailey told the Roanoke Times that most of the city's firefighters make daily stops at the convenience store she manages. The collision occurred in front of that store.
"It's terrible. It's really, really bad," Bailey said. "It's kind of heartbreaking to us. We know them. They're basically like family."
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