(This photo of Zach Whitacre is from his Facebook Profile)
Frederick County Fire and Rescue Officials informed during an afternoon press conference that 21-year-old Zachary Whitacre, a member of the Gore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department , died after being taken to Winchester Medical Center.
Firefighter Whitacre died early this Monday morning in a single vehicle accident crash just over the West Virgina line for a mutual response for wate at around 4am this morningr. The tanker involved in the accident was heading to Capon Bridge to pick up water before responding to a reported structure fire in Hampshire County.
It was reported that Zachary Whitacre, who was riding in the back of a 1986 Ford fire tanker, was thrown out of the tanker and died afer the vehicle lost control on an icy Route 50, sending it into an embankment.
Donald Whitacre the driver of the tanker, and also Zachary's father, was taken to the hospital for non life-threatening injuries.
Fire Chief Linaburg described the tragity as one of the saddest moments in Frederick County's history.
The Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department is one of eleven stations within the Frederick County Fire & Rescue Department. Gore is located about 10 miles from Winchester near the Virginia/West Virginia State Line.
Thoughts and prayers go out to Zach Whitacre’s Family, the Gore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Frederick County Fire & Rescue Department, and Zach’s Friends.
To date, 11 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
