RICHMOND TWP., Pa. – The community mourns the loss of Walnuttown Fire Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Chief Robert Shick.
“There’s a lot of good memories that we all have that we will do our best to hold onto,” said Walnuttown Fire and Rescue Lieutenant Ryan Tyson.
Authorities said both chiefs were in a UTV during a missing person search when they were hit by a swerving car on the side of Route 222 Saturday night in Richmond Township.
“They were not on the roadway. They were on the side of the roadway and this vehicle hit them head-on,” said Berks County District Attorney John Adams.
The District Attorney said both people in the car left the scene and have been apprehended. He said 26-year-old Alexander Sepulveda-Rivera from the Bronx was the driver.
“At this point, he is in Berks County Jail as he had an outstanding warrant,” said Adams.
He said Sepulveda-Rivera will face charges.
“With two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence,” said Adams.
A makeshift memorial has formed at the site of the crash.
First responders and communities across our region gathered for procession Sunday afternoon to pay their respects.
“The years of knowledge between Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Chief Robert Shick cannot be replaced. They both knew this building from the inside out more than anybody that’s here,” said Lieutenant Tyson.
He said both chiefs started with the department when they were in their teens.
Lieutenant Tyson said both leave behind families and gave it their all every day to serve the community.
“Not only were they both chief officers, but they were husbands, they were fathers, two of our members as well. I think every one of us looked up to them in ways they might not have known or understood,” said Lieutenant Tyson.
Autopsies for both chiefs are scheduled for Monday.
The fire department said it will be out of service until April 11. Mutual aid departments will be responding to calls in the interim.
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Officials say the accident happened Saturday just north of Route 662.