Two Walnuttown Firefighters Killed in Route 222 Crash During Search Mission

Two firefighters from the Walnuttown Fire Company were killed Saturday evening in Richmond Township, Pennsylvania, after their utility vehicle was struck head-on by a car while they were assisting in the search for a missing woman, according to Berks County authorities.

The fatal collision occurred around 6 p.m. on Route 222, approximately 45 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The Berks County Coroner's Office identified the victims as Fire Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick, Jr., both residents of Fleetwood. Officials stated that Buck and Shick were traveling north on the shoulder of Route 222 in a utility vehicle when a southbound Toyota Camry swerved off the road and crashed into them.

According to police, a man and a woman occupying the Toyota Camry fled the scene following the crash. Both individuals were apprehended shortly after the incident, authorities confirmed. Video footage from the area showed the fire department's utility vehicle overturned on its side.

The firefighters had been participating in a search operation for a missing woman at the time of the collision. No updates regarding the status of the missing person or additional details about the arrests were available as of Sunday. Autopsies for both firefighters were scheduled for Monday, county officials said.

The Walnuttown Fire Company expressed condolences to the families of Chief Buck and Assistant Chief Shick in a public statement, honoring their service to the community.

Police have not yet released the names or charges for the individuals arrested from the Camry, and the investigation into the crash remains ongoing.