News reports: Driver intentionally hit & killed Jacksonville, Arkansas Captain Donald Jones. Firefighter Jason Bowmaster & police officer critical.
Bryce Allen, charged with second-degree murder.
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Captain Donald Jones, a 31 year veteran of Arkansas’ Jacksonville Fire Department, was killed late last night when a man drove his vehicle into firefighters and police at a crash scene on Highway 161. Police are saying the actions of Bryce Allen were intentional. Firefighter Jason Bowmaster and a police officer are listed in critical condition.
Jacksonville police say they now believe a driver intentionally sped up and hit and killed a firefighter and injured two other emergency personnel Monday night in Jacksonville.
The vehicle had left the roadway and struck a gas main. A Jacksonville police officer and two Jacksonville firefighters were working the scene when a van left the roadway and struck all three.
Captain Donald Jones.
One firefighter, Capt. Donald Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. The other firefighter, Jason Bowmaster was med-flighted to a Little Rock hospital while the police officer was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Both are in critical condition at the time of this release.
Crews were called to the scene in the 8400 block of Highway 161 South around 11:00 Monday night after a car crashed, causing a gas main break. While emergency crews were clearing the accident, a van veered off the road, hitting three — two firefighters and a police officer.
Capt. Kenny Boyd with Jacksonville PD has identified the driver of the van that killed the firefighter as 47-year-old Bryce Allen of Jacksonville. He has been charged with 2nd degree murder and two counts of criminal intent to commit 2nd degree murder because he allegedly did not try to stop.
Boyd has also identified Allen as the son of Thelma Allen, the driver of the original car that crashed and caused the gas main break.
Statement from Jacksonville Fire Department Chief John Vanderhoof:
A Fire Chiefs worst nightmare is the loss of a Fellow Firefighter, that has been killed in the Line of Duty. Captain Donald Jones was killed in the Line of Duty while engaged in Firefighting activities on March 19,2012.
He started his career with the Jacksonville Fire Department on December 24, 1980. He served for 31 years of dedicated service with the Jacksonville Fire Department.
He will be missed by his family as well as his Firefighting Family. He will always be in our hearts and memories.
Please pray for his family, his brother firefighter and police officer that was injured at the same time, and his other fellow firefighters.
