Kentucky firefighter killed, mother injured, during aid call

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- State police say volunteer firefighter named Jonathan French, 25, was killed Wednesday while helping to put out a vehicle fire, reports WYKT in Kentucky.

They say a semi slammed into a fire truck along an interstate highway in Kentucky.

Major Jeff Gregory, with Kentucky State Police, says his mother, Lisa French, was injured and taken to a hospital with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. Gregory says both firefighters were with the Glendale Fire Department, which is made up of a little more than 20 volunteers.

"Those guys are out working hard and they're risking their lives and they're doing anything we ask and they're doing it for free," said Maj. Gregory. "They do it because they love to do it. They all have other jobs and they're always quick to answer the call."

The crash occurred along southbound Interstate 65 about 3:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday about a mile north of Glendale in central Kentucky.

Gregory says it appeared the two firefighters were getting equipment off the fire truck when the tractor-trailer hit the truck and the firefighters.

The Glendale volunteer fire department chief confirmed the victims are his sister and nephew.

The last time a firefighter with the Glendale volunteer fire department died was in 1970, when Leroy Mike Miller was electrocuted in downtown Elizabethtown. Officials say every loss is difficult.

"It's very unfortunate that you can't prepare for and it's very difficult for any fire department to try and bounce back from something like that," says Shane Crutcher with the Hardin County Fire Chief's Association.

Gregory says the investigation into the crash is continuing and no charges have been filed.