Camry driver kills 2 firefighters who were out searching for a missing woman: Police

Two unpaid Pennsylvania firefighters were connected an off-road conveyance searching for a missing pistillate erstwhile abruptly a car veered disconnected the roadworthy and struck them, sidesplitting them both, authorities say.

Alexander Sepulveda Rivera, 26, faces a multitude of charges, including 2 counts of homicide by vehicle portion driving nether the influence, 2 counts of homicide by vehicle, accidents involving decease oregon idiosyncratic injury, and DUI, Berks County District Attorney John Adams said astatine a property league streamed by determination NBC affiliate WCAU. Sepulveda is accused of causing the deaths of Walnuttown Fire Company Chief Jeffory Buck, 60, and Walnuttown Fire Company Assistant Chief Robert R. Shick, Jr., 56.

On April 4, archetypal responders were searching for a missing 60-year-old pistillate successful the country of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, a borough successful Berks County located astir 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. This hunt included members of the Walnuttown Fire Company.

Buck and Shick were successful a inferior terrain conveyance connected the enarthrosis of Route 222 — different known arsenic Kutztown Road — driving "not precise very fast," Adams said. At the aforesaid time, Rivera was allegedly driving a Toyota Camry and "weaving backmost and distant connected the roadway."

Suddenly, Rivera "left his lane of question and drove onto the enarthrosis of the roadway" and struck the UTV "head-on," Adams added.

Rivera and different idiosyncratic successful his conveyance "immediately fled the scene," witnesses said, according to Adams' relationship of events. With witnesses' help, the brace were apprehended nearby.

Rivera was work his Miranda rights, and "he admitted driving the vehicle," Adams said. "He said helium fell asleep, and helium admitted helium had smoked marijuana the aforesaid day; helium was besides recovered with a ace pipe, and helium admitted that that ace tube was his."

The DA noted that Sepulveda did not person a driver's license, and helium didn't judge that the suspect ever had one. He said that Rivera submitted to a humor test.

Rivera was booked into jail. Authorities made nary notation of the idiosyncratic with Rivera being charged oregon suspected of a crime.

The clang has resulted successful an outpouring of condolences for Buck and Shick.

"Rest casual chiefs, we got it from here," the Walnuttown Fire Company posted connected its Facebook page.

"I americium profoundly saddened to larn of the tragic nonaccomplishment of Chief Jeffory L. Buck and Assistant Chief Robert Shick of the Walnuttown Fire Company, who gave their lives successful the enactment of work portion conducting a hunt connected April 4, 2026," Pennsylvania authorities Sen. Chris Gebhard said. "My heartfelt condolences spell retired to their families, friends, chap firefighters, and the full assemblage arsenic they mourn this tragic loss."