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| The NC highway patrol says this is the truck that struck and killed the volunteer firefighters. They believe the driver was under the influence |
Firefighter killed in western NC while responding to Nate storm damage
Updated 8:50 a.m. today
Boone, N.C. — Officials in Burke County said a firefighter was hit and killed by a car late Sunday while cleaning storm debris from a road in Morganton.
According to officials with the Triple Community Fire Department, the 40-year-old man was working with another firefighter to clear the debris from the road leftover by tropical depression Nate when a car struck him. Officials said he died on impact.
The driver of the car has been charged with DWI.
Nate weakened to a tropical depression on Sunday but severely impacted portions of western North Carolina in the process.
According to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner, the passing system brought strong winds and 2 to 4 inches of rain to the mountains late Sunday into Monday. A picture posted on Twitter by Appalachian State University students shows a flooded hallway in an academic building.
Officials also reported several tornadoes across North Carolina's western counties due to Nate's remnants, including Cleveland County, Caldwell County and Burke County. At least 12,000 businesses and homes were without power.
The tropical depression will continue north on Monday.
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MORGANTON, N.C. — A North Carolina firefighter was hit and killed by a car late Sunday night in Morganton, WSOC reports.
The Triple Community Fire Department released that two firefighters were clearing debris from the roadway on Highway 70 when a car traveling eastbound struck firefighter Jason Hensley, 40.
Hensley was killed on impact.
An investigation conducted by the North Carolina Highway Patrol found that Randall Stewart, 58, was driving recklessly without a license while impaired. He also had marijuana in his possession.
Stewart is in the hospital but will be arrested when he is released.
No arrangements for Hensley have been made at this time.
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BURKE COUNTY, N.C. - A Triple Community Fire Department firefighter was hit and killed by a car while clearing storm debris late Sunday night in Morganton.
Department officials said that two firefighters were clearing debris from the roadway on Highway 70 when a car traveling eastbound struck firefighter Jason Hensley, 40.
Hensley was killed on impact.
An investigation conducted by the North Carolina Highway Patrol found that Randall Stewart, 58, was driving recklessly without a license while impaired. He also had marijuana in his possession.
Stewart was taken to the hospital but will be arrested when he is released.
No arrangements for Hensley have been made at this time. Check back with wsoctv.com as we receive more information