NJFFSA16
05-23-2005, 03:33 AM
GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - A volunteer firefighter who struck and
killed a mentally-disabled man had been responding to a report of a
car fire before the accident, the Colorado State Patrol said.
Rodney Roach, 40, of Eaton, was struck around 10:20 p.m.
Thursday while walking on Weld County Road 51, troopers said.
Roach's grandmother and caregiver, Rosa Spaustat, said she
didn't blame the firefighter for the accident.
"He (Roach) shouldn't have been out there at night," she said.
Spaustat said Roach liked to feed nearby horses and other farm
animals at night, despite her many warnings about the danger.
"He had the IQ of a 6- or 8-year-old, but he was my right
arm," Spaustat said.
Pickup truck driver and Galeton Fire Department volunteer Bruce
Walker, 54, of Eaton was responding with State Patrol troopers to
the reported car fire. When no fire was found, they deactivated
lights and sirens and resumed the posted speed limit of 55 mph,
troopers said.
The driver of the truck, Bruce Walker of Eaton, will not be
charged in the death because it was "a terrible, unfortunate
accident," said Galeton Fire Chief Clint Heidenreich.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
killed a mentally-disabled man had been responding to a report of a
car fire before the accident, the Colorado State Patrol said.
Rodney Roach, 40, of Eaton, was struck around 10:20 p.m.
Thursday while walking on Weld County Road 51, troopers said.
Roach's grandmother and caregiver, Rosa Spaustat, said she
didn't blame the firefighter for the accident.
"He (Roach) shouldn't have been out there at night," she said.
Spaustat said Roach liked to feed nearby horses and other farm
animals at night, despite her many warnings about the danger.
"He had the IQ of a 6- or 8-year-old, but he was my right
arm," Spaustat said.
Pickup truck driver and Galeton Fire Department volunteer Bruce
Walker, 54, of Eaton was responding with State Patrol troopers to
the reported car fire. When no fire was found, they deactivated
lights and sirens and resumed the posted speed limit of 55 mph,
troopers said.
The driver of the truck, Bruce Walker of Eaton, will not be
charged in the death because it was "a terrible, unfortunate
accident," said Galeton Fire Chief Clint Heidenreich.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)