Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Edward Rice |
| Agency | McLeansboro Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Volunteer |
| Age Range | 31 to 35 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 8/31/1950 |
| Cause of Death | Struck by vehicle |
| Nature of Death | Trauma |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Emergency vehicle operations , Responding to/returning from incident |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | McLeansboro |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 8/28/1950 |
| Incident Location | Firehouse |
| Incident Attribute | Firehouse accidents |
Incident Summary
McLeansboro Fire Department’s volunteer fireman Edward Rice passed away August 31st, 1950, three days after sustaining injuries in a fire apparatus accident while responding to a fire call.
On Monday, August 28th, 1950, Rice was standing on the running board of the fire apparatus when he was crushed between the door of the fire house and the side of the apparatus as it was pulling out in response to a call about a residential fire.
Rice held himself on the apparatus until fellow firemen and spectators noticed something was wrong and rushed him to the hospital, where he was found to have sustained a fractured pelvis and serious crushing injuries to the intestines, bladder, and kidneys. Although he received immediate treatment, blood transfusions, and surgery, his injuries were too severe and he passed away on August 31st, 1950.
Rice had been a member of the McLeansboro Fire Department for ten years, and was employed as a shop foreman and assistant manager at W.L. Widick company.
He was survived by his widow, daughter, and mother.
Citations:
“Local Volunteer Fireman Crushed Monday Morning as Truck Left Fire House,” The Times-Leader, August 31, 1950.
Firefighter and Incident Images
