Autopsy: Blunt Force Trauma Killed Eastland Fireman

SACHSE (CBSDFW.COM) -  Outside fire stations in Sachse, flags fly at half-staff, honoring the sacrifice of volunteer firefighter Greg Simmons who died fighting a fire in Eastland County Friday.

"I'm still kind of in shock, to be honest with you," said Fire Chief Doug Hendrick.

Hendrick remembers when Simmons, 50, first became a volunteer firefighter with the Sachse fire department more than two decades ago.

His peers, back then, gave him the nickname Pudge and he embraced it.

"It was just kind of the way he was built.. you know, short and stocky," said Hendrick.  "Everybody loved old Pudge."

Former colleagues say firefighting became a passion for Simmons.

"He always liked grassfires. He liked going out there and the excitement, helping people," said Hendrick.

He eventually moved to Eastland to start a new business, but continued his work as a volunteer firefighter, finding even more grassfires in the western county.

"He was meant for the service. He was born into it. He started as a volunteer and that's how he went out," said Lt. James Marple, who was once mentored by Simmons.

Initially, officials believed Simmons was overwhelmed by smoke and fell into a ditch. In a statement Saturday, City Manager Ron Holliday issued a release saying Simmons' tragic death had taken a "dramatic turn."

An autopsy identified the cause of death as an accidental blow to the upper torso, not smoke inhalation. Sunday, a state trooper indicated that Simmons was hit by a vehicle after running from a firetruck trapped by flames.

Officials didn't know whether he was hit by a car or the fire truck.

"Unfortunately this investigation is going to take considerable time to accomplish. Results will be released as soon as they become available," said DPS Sgt. David Foster.

CORRECTION: A previous version of the story incorrectly said Simmons was 51-years-old. According to the city of Eastland, Simmons was 50, not 51 as news outlets were initially informed.