Excerpts from FireRescue1.com
Firefighters often face heartbreak as part of their duty. While it's a burden they carry, many find comfort in the hope that lessons learned from such moments might prevent future tragedies.
The death of Kenneth Lehr, the volunteer fire chief of Medora, Illinois, was one such heartbreaking event. It was an unexpected and tragic incident that left many in shock and searching for answers.
As is common after such events, some people quickly sought someone to blame. In this case, it was Patrick Cullum, a firefighter and engineer who was operating the engine that led to Chief Lehr’s death.
On the afternoon of February 5th, a landing zone (LZ) was established to transport an injured patient to a trauma center. However, the initial site was deemed unsuitable, and a second location about a mile away was chosen. Cullum drove the fire engine from the first LZ to the second.
While pulling off the highway near the new LZ, Cullum claims he saw personnel nearby—about 10 to 15 yards away. Unbeknownst to him, Chief Lehr had been riding on the tailboard of the engine between the two locations. In the few seconds before he put the engine in reverse, Lehr either fell or stepped off the back. The truck ran over him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cullum later said he would carry the guilt of not taking just 10 extra seconds to get a spotter before reversing. “Someone told me that Chief Lehr had fallen under the truck before I could stop,†he said. “It wasn’t an accident—it was my responsibility to make sure the truck was safe. In an accident, there’s nothing you can do. But this was preventable.â€
Early reports were vague on key details, such as the nature of the patient’s injuries, the request for assistance, which departments responded, and the exact locations of the landing zones. These details are expected to be clarified in the final OSHA report.
Cullum is not alone in this situation. Many emergency responders have reversed vehicles without a spotter, a practice that reflects the normalization of deviance in high-pressure environments. This behavior is similar to not wearing a seatbelt or being distracted while driving an emergency vehicle.
Medora is a small town, and the tragedy deeply affected the community. Following the incident, the family of Chief Lehr asked Cullum not to attend the funeral and requested his resignation from the department. He respected both requests.
This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of safety protocols, even in the most urgent situations. It also highlights the emotional toll on first responders, who must deal with both the loss of a colleague and the weight of personal responsibility.
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