On Sunday morning, a gathering of off-duty Wilmington firefighters, their family members, and friends took a tragic turn when a child was struck by a vehicle
Officials said at approximately 9:59 police were dispatched to the 500 block of South Madison Street in Wilmington for reports of a pedestrian struck. Arriving officers learned that a 3-year-old male child was rushed to Wilmington Hospital where he was he was pronounced deceased.
On Monday the Wilmington Fire Department said the child, the son of an off-duty Wilmington firefighter, was struck by a vehicle during the gathering for the memorial walk.
Officials said the vehicle was being driven by another off-duty firefighter who was attempting to park and participate in the memorial event.
Police officials said the vehicle involved in the accident remained at the scene, and the Wilmington Police Department’s Traffic Unit is conducting the investigation.
The annual walk is held to honor three Wilmington firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty during a devastating structure fire at Canby Park.
Sunday’s tragic incident occurred on the anniversary of the Canby Park rowhome fire in 2016. In the early hours of September 24, 2016, firefighters responded to a row home fire in the 1900 block of Lakeview Road in the Canby Park area of Wilmington.
Lt. Christopher Leach, a 41-year-old firefighter with 14 years of service, entered the burning structure as he had countless times before. Once inside, he became trapped in the basement. Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes, a 51-year-old veteran with 13 years of service, along with several other firefighters, entered the building to rescue Lt. Leach. However, as they attempted to save their colleague, the first floor collapsed, leaving them all trapped in the inferno.
The floor’s collapse took the lives of both Lt. Leach and Senior Firefighter Fickes. The incident also left Firefighters Ardy Hope, a 48-year-old veteran with 23 years of service, and Brad Speakman with serious burns. Hope and Speakman were rushed to Crozer Burn Center in Chester, Pennsylvania. After a long battle, Firefighter Ardy Hope succumbed to her injuries.
Firefighter Brad Speakman spent six weeks at the same hospital recovering from injuries he received during the same fire. He was released in November of that year.