A Jacksonville firefighter is believed to have died in a crash late Tuesday night on the Arlington Expressway approaching the Mathews Bridge.
The Florida Highway Patrol says a JEA truck was traveling westbound on the Arlington Expressway when it slowed down and stopped in the right lane to remove cones out of the roadway to the exit to University Blvd.
A Chevy Tahoe was following behind and rear-ended the JEA truck. It caught fire, and the driver died.
A statement from JFRD reads:
"It is through profound sorrow and a heavy heart that the JFRD is preparing to acknowledge, pending confirmation from the ongoing investigation, the untimely and ineffably tragic passing of Firefighter Christopher Swary, who lost his life in a motor vehicle accident late last night.
A member of the Department since January 2002 and assigned to Engine 11, Christopher will always be remembered for his unparalleled dedication to the JFRD as well as to the community he felt privileged and honored to serve.
The JFRD wishes to extend to the immediate family, closest friends and co-workers our sincere and heartfelt condolences."
Westbound lanes of the Arlington Expressway were closed until approximately 6:30am Wednesday.
Neither the driver nor passenger of the JEA truck was hurt. A crash report by Florida Highway Patrol says charges are pending.
We reached out to JEA and received this statement: "We follow standard safety protocol after any incident involving an employee. We conduct a full safety investigation. Including a substance screening."