Walnuttown Fire and Rescue is in mourning after its fire chief and assistant fire chief were killed on Saturday, when a sedan collided with the off-road utility vehicle they were using on Route 222 in Berks County. The department identified the victims as Fire Chief Jeffory L. Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert R. Shick Jr., noting that both men were participating in a search operation when the crash happened. The loss has rocked the small volunteer station as families, fellow firefighters, and neighbors begin to absorb the news.
What officials said
Investigators with the Berks County Coroner’s Office told CBS Philadelphia that the two chiefs were operating a side-by-side UTV in the northbound lanes of Route 222 when a southbound sedan crossed over and struck their vehicle. The crash took place in Richmond Township during an active search for a missing woman, according to the coroner. Walnuttown Fire and Rescue confirmed the fatalities in a statement on its Facebook page and asked the public and media for privacy while funeral plans are arranged.
Arrests and hospital updates
A male driver and a female passenger allegedly ran from the sedan after the collision but were later located on Krause Road, and officials said the driver was taken into custody, according to Daily Voice. Buck was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital and Shick to Reading Hospital, where both later died from their injuries, the outlet reported. Autopsies were scheduled at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Forensic Center, the coverage added.
Walnuttown and its role
Walnuttown Fire Company is a volunteer department that covers parts of Maidencreek Township and nearby communities, with public nonprofit records listing both men among its leadership. ProPublica nonprofit filings show Jeffory Buck and Robert Shick on the department’s roster, underscoring how central they were to local emergency response. The department has said it plans to share funeral information once arrangements are finalized.
Safety on Route 222
U.S. Route 222 has been under a safety spotlight in recent years, with local officials targeting aggressive driving along the busy corridor. Last summer, a joint Berks and Lehigh County police initiative focused on speeding and tailgating along the route. The crash that killed the two chiefs is a somber reminder of the dangers first responders and motorists face on that stretch of highway.
Investigation ongoing
The Berks County Coroner’s Office said it is collaborating with the Lehigh County coroner, the Berks County District Attorney’s forensic services unit, and local police as the investigation moves forward, according to local reporting. As of early Sunday, officials had not announced any formal criminal charges and said they are reviewing evidence and will release additional information when it is available. Neighboring fire companies and residents have been posting condolences and offering mutual-aid support while Walnuttown works to reorganize its operations.
Walnuttown’s Facebook request for privacy for the families has drawn an outpouring of sympathy from across Berks County, and the department has reiterated that funeral details will be announced at a later time. The deaths of the two chiefs highlight the risks volunteer firefighters accept every time they respond to a call, and community leaders say support continues to pour in. This story will be updated as officials release further statements and records.
