Sask. volunteer firefighter struck by passing semi and killed while at scene of crash near Rosetown

RCMPsay a volunteer firefighter is dead after he was struck by a passing semi-truck while responding to a two-vehicle crash near Rosetown.

Darrell James Morrison, 46, was one of the first responders on scene after two semis collided about 20 kilometres north of Rosetown on Highway 4.

While Morrison was providing assistance at the scene, he was struck by another semi which was passing on the highway, according to RCMP.

"Life saving efforts were made by his colleagues at the scene and he was transport to hospital in Rosetown, but he died a short time later," RCMP said in a press release.

It happened north of Rosetown and south of Marriott. Police say detours are in place to direct traffic away from the area.

Heavy fog and ice have been reported in the area, so police are reminding travellers to be cautious while driving.

Rosetown is about 117 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon.

Caution urged

An emotional Doug Lapchuk, president of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Firefighters Association, said people need to be extra careful when passing emergency crews.

"When you're driving, watch what you're doing. There are people out there who deserve who deserve to be able to go home after the call.

"If people could learn to be a little more patient and tolerant and realize that lives are at stake and these are people from your neighbourhood who have chosen to go out and help somebody else."

Rosetown Mayor Adam Kriesersaid the town is in shock from the tragedy.

"It's so much more tragic it seems when we are the people who run from the fire and these are the people that run to it. When we find ourselves in trouble somewhere these are usually the first people on the scene to come help."

He said all their thoughts and prayers go out to Morrison's family and to the firefighting community.

"They're doing it as volunteers to come and help others and for someone in that line of duty to pay the price is indescribable."

Highway 41 closure

The closure comes shortly after a stretch of highway was closed on Highway 41, about eight kilometres south of Wakaw,after a fatal crash betweena car and semi.

• Man dead after car collides with semi near Wakaw

Police say both stretches of highway will be closed for several hours while the investigations continue, and theywill release more information on both crashes as it becomes available.