Incident Name: Travel
Date: 10/04/07
Personnel: Adam Edward Cole
Age: 24
Agency/Organization: Buchanan Valley Volunteer FD, PA
Position: Volunteer
Summary: Firefighter Cole was responding to the fire station after his fire department was dispatched to a wildland fire caused by arson. Firefighter Cole was driving his personal vehicle, a 2005 Subaru Impreza.
During his response, Firefighter Cole rounded a right-hand curve. He lost control of his vehicle and struck a car traveling in the opposite direction. The impact spun Firefighter Cole’s vehicle counter- clockwise; his vehicle left the right side of the roadway and struck a tree.
Firefighter Cole was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was trapped between the passenger seat and the dash of his vehicle. Local emergency responders arrived and transported Firefighter Cole to the hospital, where he later died.
Excessive speed was cited in the law enforcement report on the crash as a contributing factor.
From USFA Memorial Database
From Adam’s tribute page at the Buchanan Valley FD
Accident Site (approximate)
{mosmap lat=’39.92311’| lon=’-77.40192’|text=’Accident location for Adam Cole’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- USFA Memorial Database: Adam Edward Cole
- SAFENET on the Importance of Wearing Seat belts: from 2007
Wildlandfire.com Links:
- Obituary Link to Find A GraveBIGLERVILLE Adam E. Cole, 24, died Thursday, October 4, 2007, from injuries received in an automobile accident while responding to a fire call. Born May 25, 1983, in Gettysburg, he was the son of Gary E. and Colleen A. (Fleshman) Cole of Biglerville. Adam was a 2002 graduate of Biglerville High School. While there, Adam was a member of Apple City FFA where he earned a number of degrees and awards including the Greenhand Degree, Star Greenhand, Chapter Degree, Apple Degree, Keystone Degree, American Degree, PA State Star in Horticulture, Dekalb Award, and the South Mountain Antique Engine Association Agriculture Award. He was FFA Vice President for two years and served as Chaplain for one year. Adam was employed by Cole Bros. in Biglerville. He was also a certified EMT and belonged to the Buchanan Valley Fire Company where he volunteered as a firefighter. Adam was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Orrtanna. He was an avid sportsman and a dedicated Washington Redskins fan, NASCAR enthusiast, and member of the Buchanan Valley Rod and Gun Club where he served as the activities reporter. In addition to his parents, Adam is survived by a sister, Meagan R. Cole, and a brother, Brock D. Cole, both of Biglerville; maternal grandparents, Howard and Colleen Fleshman of New Chester; and his dear friend, Amanda Golden. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Church Road, Orrtanna, with Fr. Kenneth G. Smith as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Ignatius Cemetery. Viewings will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Monahan Funeral Home, 125 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, and from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Buchanan Valley Fire Company, 1180 Buchanan Valley Road, Orrtanna, PA 17353.
Published in the Evening Sun from 10/6/2007 – 10/7/2007.
Saint Ignatius Catholic Church Cemetery
Pringle, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA
Created by: Gloria Miller, Record added: Oct 07, 2007, Find A Grave Memorial# 21997525
- Page dedicated for Adam Cole: Buchanan Valley FD
- Info on Memorial Service and where to send donations for Adam Cole: Condolences
- Obituary submitted by “Coley’s” parents:Adam was born on May 25, 1983 to Gary and Annette Cole. He was a big brother to his sister Meagan and brother Brock. Adam also left behind his soul mate Mandey and his beloved Dalmatian Birky. Many friends and extended family miss him greatly. Adam took pride in every endeavor he took on. In high school his passion was the FFA, where he earned numerous awards. Even after high school he continued with his pride in FFA by earning the highest award possible; The American Degree.
Adam did not come from a firefighter family. His passion began 3 years prior to his death, with encouragement from firefighter friends; he joined our local volunteer fire company. His love for helping others grew stronger with every call he answered. He helped with the Jr. Firefighters, feeds and anywhere else he was needed. In 2006 his passion grew into a career choice for him. He took his test to get into the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Academy. When it didn’t happen in 2006, he did not give up. Adam signed up for EMT classes and after several months of training, taking the practicum with a broken foot, he passed and became a licensed EMT for PA.
In the summer of 2007, Adam received noticed that his name came up and he had a chance to enter the D.C. Academy. Adam worked hard to finalize his chances of getting in. The morning of Adam’s death he got word that after his physical examine, which was the following week, he was to enter the academy at the end of October.
Adam still had numerous papers to fill out for the following week and was planning on working on them the evening of his death. The call came in and his pager went off. A neighboring county needed help with a forest fire. Without hesitation he responded to his fire station. Adam always put the safety of others above his own and this day was no different. He jumped in his car and left his house, forgetting one important thing, buckling his seatbelt. He knew someone needed his help and he needed to get there. While responding he was involved in a fatal auto accident.
Adam’s family received Firefighter of the Year award in his memory for 2007.Also, in his memory the Adam Cole National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge was put into place. To all firefighters, please take the time to sign the pledge and remember to wear your seatbelt while responding to a call. To all others, please support your local volunteer fire company; they cannot survive without our help.
Contributors to this article: Mellie
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