N.C. Man Struck, Killed by Firetruck
Nov. 07--A man with a disability that made it hard for him to walk was struck by a firetruck and killed Thursday night as he crossed Lowell Road in Gaston County.
Authorities have not released the name of the victim who was killed or the driver of the firetruck. No one had been charged with a crime late Thursday.
N.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. John Brodhage told WBTV, the Observer's news partner, that the man had been in the bar across the street and might have been intoxicated when he crossed Lowell Road. He was standing in the middle of the street when the firetruck from Ranlo Fire and Rescue station 19 struck him. Brodhage said the truck was going about 30 mph, five below the posted speed limit.
Drew Ledbetter, owner of the Route 7 Bar & Grill, said the man came over for dinner Thursday. He said the man had as many as four beers with his cheeseburger, but was not drunk.
Ledbetter said the man lived across the street and had some disability that made it difficult for him to walk. When the man drank heavily, Ledbetter said, he gave him a ride home because he didn't want him to be impaired as he crossed the street where cars often speed.
"He was just a super nice guy," Ledbetter said. "He never said a bad word to anybody."
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