Chester County grieves 1 firefighter, prays for another after fatal crash over the weekend
EXTON, PA, (CBS) -- A West Whiteland Fire Company volunteer firefighter is dead and another is in the hospital after their car crashed Friday night while responding to an emergency call.
"My heart sank," said Fire Chief Kevin Miller when he got a report of a crash from Uwchlan Township Police.
He was waiting for volunteer firefighters, Colin Reedy, 25, and Emily Gindele, 24, who were responding to the station for an emergency call.
Instead, Miller rushed to Welsh Pool Road and Village Avenue.
"[Colin] and Emily responded and during a heavy downpour and we believe he lost control of his vehicle and went off the roadway," Miller said.
He said the car hit a tree, Reedy died at the scene, and Gindele was on her way to the hospital.
"Nothing ever prepares you for that," Miller said.
He the two had been dating for several years and working with the department for less than six months each.
"They were very dedicated. Every call was an adventure to them. They were so new. It was a breath of fresh air to have them," Miller said.
Ryan Aitken, co-owner of Plumbing Done Right Today in Wilmington, Del., said Reedy worked for the company as a plumber and was just as dedicated to his full-time job.
"Colin was hands down the hardest worker that we ever met. He would do anything to get the job done," Ryan Aitken said.
Co-owner Patrick Aitken said the office staff was in tears after learning of Reedy's death.
"But when he did leave us, he was on his way to help someone else, which is just the epitome of who Colin Reedy was as a person," he said.
Ryan Aitken said the company is already working on plans to keep Reedy's memory alive.
"And eventually, we would like to come up with a Colin Reedy award that everybody would win once a year for the best overall hardest working employee who followed Colin's footsteps and his example," he said.
Patrick Aitken said Gindele was also part of the company family.
"Everyone here at Done Right Today that I've spoken with is praying for Emily and her family for a speedy recovery," he said.
Monday, Exton Station resident Judy Perego-Williams brought flowers to the fire station. She left them at a memorial to another West Whiteland Firefighter who died on the job about 20 years before.
She remembered feeling grateful when firefighters fixed one of her tires. She said everyone at the department treated neighbors like family, and she had to return the favor.
"It's family. And they welcome anyone into their family. They are just welcoming good-hearted people," Judy Perego-Williams said.
"They were an inspiration to us, but to the world as a whole," Chief Miller said. "It was great to see that. It makes you believe in something, that there is something bigger out there."
Gindele was scheduled for surgery on Monday. While Miller waited on an update on her condition, he said there were already plans to carve Reedy's name into the memorial at the fire station.
