Salisbury Township Fire and Ambulance firefighter/paramedics responded about 8:20 a.m. Friday to a crash involving a pickup truck and a semi-trailer truck at Route 340 and Churchtown Road in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Firefighter Jake Long, 19, was driving the pickup truck, and passenger firefighter Benuel Stoltzfus, 23, both of Honey Brook were killed in the crash. Another passenger, firefighter Jake Zook, 23, of Honey Brook, was injured in the crash.
The tractor-trailer driver, Roberto Jones Chambers, 46, of Philadelphia, had minor injuries.
Zook and Chambers were transported to Lancaster General Hospital.
It is with deep sorrow that the Honey Brook Fire Company confirms the death of two valued members, Jacob Long and Benuel Stoltzfus, as well as injuries to another member, Jacob Zook, in a motor vehicle accident which occurred this morning in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County. We are thankful that a bystander at the scene was able to pull Jake Zook from the burning vehicle, and Jake is in stable condition at Lancaster General Hospital. At the same time we are heartbroken by the devastating loss of two of our firehouse family members.
Jake and Benuel served the Honey Brook Fire Company and their community with pride, and were positive role models to many at the firehouse, especially the junior members. Their dedication and hard work will be missed by all, especially their extended family at the Honey Brook Fire Company.
We send our deepest sympathies to the Long and Stoltzfus families and friends, and offer them our support during this difficult time. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be posted when finalized.
We also send thanks to the Lancaster County crews for their swift response to the scene and their professionalism in handling the incident.
Sincerely,
According to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Ryan Lawrence, the tractor-trailer was westbound on Route 340 with the right-of-way when the pickup truck driver entered the roadway southbound from Churchtown Road.
Chambers apparently swerved to the left, but was unable to avoid hitting the driver’s side of the pickup truck carrying the firefighters. Both vehicles hit an embankment, and the semi-trailer truck flew into the air with the trailer still connected. Both vehicles ended up in a yard at 6104 Old Philadelphia Pike and caught fire.
The firefighters were on their way to work on a masonry job.
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