(St. Cloud-AP) -- A memorial fund has been set up to benefit the
family of a St. Cloud firefighter who was killed in the line of
duty this week.
Forty-nine-year-old Don Billig was killed Monday night when he
was struck by a pickup driven by 36-year-old Loren Pfannenstein
(FUN'-in-styne). Pfannenstein has been charged in the hit-and-run
death.
Those wanting to donate to the memorial fund may sent
contributions to the Don Billig Memorial Fund in care of U-S Bank,
1015 West St. Germain Street, St. Cloud. The zip code is 56301.
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Don Billig-St. Cloud, Minnesota
My prayers go out to the family and friends of Don Billig. May he rest in peace!
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - A firefighter with the St. Cloud
volunteer division died while on duty late Monday from injuries
received in a vehicle crash near St. Augusta.
Don Billig, an assistant chief in the volunteer division, was
replacing a barricade blocking a construction zone when a driver
struck his crew's truck, which then hit Billig, said Dennis
Ballantine, St. Cloud police chief.
Billig, 49, is the first St. Cloud firefighter killed in the
line of duty, said Mayor John Ellenbecker.
Billig was an 18-year veteran in the department and leaves
behind a wife and three children, one of whom also works for the
volunteer division, Ellenbecker said.
The driver of the pickup that hit the fire truck left his truck
at the scene of the crash and fled on foot, Ballantine said.
Members of several law enforcement agencies spent hours
searching for the driver of the pickup that hit Billig's fire
truck, which was a heavy duty pickup outfitted to fight grass
fires.
He turned himself in to St. Cloud police Tuesday morning and was
being held in Stearns County Jail.
Ballantine said the 36-year-old man could be charged with hit
and run after the investigation is finished.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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