Trending Now - Tragic Collision Claims Lives of Two Firefighters in Search Effort

WHO:

WFMZ.com - Lieutenant Ryan Tyson of the Walnuttown Fire and Rescue department described Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Chief Robert Shick as "father figures" to the department members.

WFMZ.com - District Attorney John Adams stated that Alexander Sepulveda-Rivera is being held at the Berks County Jail on an outstanding warrant.

NBC Philadelphia - The driver of the Toyota Camry involved in the crash has been identified as 26-year-old Alexander Sepulveda-Rivera, of the Bronx, New York.

ABC News - The deceased firefighters were Walnuttown Fire Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick, Jr.

WFMZ.com - Both firefighters were residents of Maidencreek Township.

WHAT:

NBC Philadelphia - The firefighters were struck by a Toyota Camry while they were in a UTV on the shoulder of Route 222.

WFMZ.com - Chief Buck was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, where he later died from his injuries, while Assistant Chief Shick was taken to Reading Hospital, where he also succumbed to his injuries.

WFMZ.com - A makeshift memorial has formed at the site of the crash.

WFMZ.com - The Walnuttown Fire Department will be out of service until April 11th, 2026, with mutual aid departments responding to calls in the interim.

WFMZ.com - The autopsies for Chief Buck and Assistant Chief Shick are scheduled for Monday morning, April 6th, 2026, at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Forensic Center.

WFMZ.com - Adams confirmed that Sepulveda-Rivera will be charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence within 24 to 48 hours.

WFMZ.com - Sepulveda-Rivera is expected to be charged within 24 to 48 hours with two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.

ABC News - Two firefighters died in a head-on crash while searching for a missing woman.

WFMZ.com - The firefighters were in a utility vehicle that was struck by a Toyota Camry.

WFMZ.com - The driver and passenger of the Toyota Camry fled the scene and were later apprehended.

WHERE:

ABC News - The crash occurred on Route 222, approximately 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia.

WFMZ.com - The search for the missing woman was taking place in Richmond Township, near Kutztown Road and Route 662.

WHEN:

WFMZ.com - Autopsies for Chief Buck and Assistant Chief Shick are scheduled for Monday morning, April 6th, 2026.

ABC News - The crash occurred at about 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 3rd, 2026.

WFMZ.com - The firefighters were involved in the search effort on April 3rd, 2026.

WFMZ.com - Autopsies for the firefighters were scheduled for Monday, April 5th, 2026.

WHY:

WFMZ.com - The firefighters were searching for a missing 60-year-old woman at the time of the accident.

HOW:

WFMZ.com - The driver and passenger of the Toyota Camry fled the scene on foot but were apprehended on Krause Road shortly after the crash.

WFMZ.com - Witnesses reported that the Toyota Camry was swerving on the roadway before it veered off and struck the UTV head-on.

NBC Philadelphia - Video from the crash scene shows the utility vehicle on its side after the collision.

ABC News - The utility vehicle was traveling on the shoulder of Route 222 when it was struck by the Camry, which swerved off the road.

WFMZ.com - Witnesses reported that the Toyota Camry was swerving on the roadway before the collision.

(UPDATED April 6, 2026 09:17 UTC)

Tragically, two firefighters from the Walnuttown Fire Department were struck by a Toyota Camry while they were in a UTV on the shoulder of Route 222, resulting in the death of Chief Buck at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest and Assistant Chief Shick at Reading Hospital. A makeshift memorial has since formed at the crash site, as the fire department remains out of service until April 11th, with mutual aid departments responding to calls. The driver and passenger of the Toyota Camry fled the scene but were apprehended shortly after on Krause Road.

(UPDATED April 6, 2026 01:19 UTC)

Lieutenant Ryan Tyson of the Walnuttown Fire and Rescue department described Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Chief Robert Shick as "father figures" to the department members, as the community mourns their loss. Autopsies for both chiefs are scheduled for Monday morning at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, while District Attorney John Adams confirmed that Alexander Sepulveda-Rivera is being held on an outstanding warrant and will face two counts of homicide by vehicle due to driving under the influence. Witnesses reported that Sepulveda-Rivera's Toyota Camry was swerving on the roadway before it veered off and struck the UTV head-on.

(UPDATED April 5, 2026 23:04 UTC)

The driver involved in the crash has been identified as 26-year-old Alexander Sepulveda-Rivera from the Bronx, New York, and he is expected to face charges of two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence within the next couple of days. Autopsies for Chief Buck and Assistant Chief Shick are scheduled for Monday morning, April 6th. Video footage from the scene shows the utility vehicle overturned following the collision.

(UPDATED April 5, 2026 19:11 UTC)

Two firefighters, Walnuttown Fire Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick, Jr., tragically lost their lives in a head-on crash while searching for a missing 60-year-old woman on Saturday evening, on Friday. The accident occurred on Route 222, about 45 miles northwest of Philadelphia, when their utility vehicle was struck by a Toyota Camry that swerved off the road; the driver and passenger of the Camry fled the scene but were later apprehended. Autopsies for the firefighters are scheduled for on Sunday, as the community mourns their loss.