Incident Name:
Date: Incident Date: 11/8/2010; Death Date: 1/9/2011
Personnel: Francis Ladue
Age: 63
Agency/Organization: Santa Rosa Volunteer Fire Department, Santa Rosa, Texas
Position: firefighter
Summary: Firefighter Ladue was operating an engine company performing resupply operations for a brush truck at a grass/brush fire in Cameron County. The engine featured an open passenger cab with the pump controls located mid-mount between the cab and tank. Firefighter Ladue slipped while stepping down from the pump controls to the passenger side and hit the back of his head. Firefighter Ladue indicated he was not injured and refused treatment at the scene. After the fire was controlled, he returned to the fire station. At approximately 1830 hrs, he went home after refusing medical attention. Complaining of a headache to his wife, he went into a bedroom to rest. He was later found by his wife unconscious and unresponsive. He was transported by ambulance to a hospital where an examination revealed an intracranial hemorrhage. Firefighter Ladue remained on life support until passing away on January 9, 2011.
Maps
Valley Baptist Medical Center, Harlingen, TX
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Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Texas State Fire Marshall: Accident Report (1,313 K pdf)
- USFA Memorial Database: Francis Arthur Ladue, Jr
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