NC fire captain dies on the way to vehicle crash

WAYNESVILLE, N.C -- The Jonathan Creek Fire Department is mourning the death of Captain Claud G. Messer, who died on his way to the scene of a vehicle crash.

*Capt. Claud G. Messer was driving a fire truck when a logging truck attempted to make a left-hand turn forcing Messer to hit the brakes and crash into the truck. Duty Death: Claud G. Messer - [Waynesville, North Carolina]End of Service: 09/20/2019Yesterday at 1:02 PM
By FireRescue1 Staff 

Capt. Messer was driving the fire truck in response to a vehicle crash when a logging truck attempted to make a left-hand turn, forcing Messer to hit the brakes, crashing into the truck, ABC 13 WLOS reported. One of the logs went through the windshield, killing Messer.

"He was a well-known member of the community, as well as with the Jonathan Creek Fire Department. Several of his family was also part of the fire department. He was also a mentor to many firemen," Trooper Mike Holcombe, said.

Capt. Messer chaired the department's Board of Directors and was a co-founder of JCFD, established in 1986.

First responders took close to four hours to investigate the crash and troopers described the morning to be a difficult time. Police will continue to investigate the crash and will bring in a reconstructionist to determine who was at fault in the fatal incident.