By David Day
Vicksburg Daily News
Two Vicksburg firefighters were lost in a tragic weekend accident in Vicksburg.
At about 1:15 a.m. Sunday morning, a high-performance vehicle carrying two Vicksburg firefighters left the interstate while traveling west at the Clay Street exit. The vehicle traveled a short distance and struck a light pole.
As news of the accident spread, several firefighters, their families and their friends gathered at the accident scene to comfort one another.
One of the first people on the scene, a civilian who witnessed the crash told the Vicksburg Daily News about his efforts to assist the injured in the accident. He was processing the horrible scene that unfolded in front of him and replayed it again and again to several people. He was visibly shaken with a distant look on his face. Another eyewitness was inconsolable as he came to terms with the crash. He repeatedly attempted to go down to the crash site but was stopped by law enforcement and first responders.
As other firefighters arrived they hugged and consoled each other through tears and disbelief.
By the time the first firefighters who arrived at the accident had completed their duties, they were now openly weeping over their lost brothers.
Vicksburg Fire Chief Derrick Stamps Sr. arrived at the scene and was seen consoling his firefighters as Vicksburg Police Officer Bobby Jones and Chief Charles Hill did the accident investigation.
“The Vicksburg Fire Department suffered a devastating loss this morning when two of our firefighters were lost in an automobile accident,” Stamps said. Our firefighting family is hurting but we are taking care of the immediate family of our two firefighters. Over the next few days as we lay our brothers to rest we ask that the community keep us in your prayers.”
Mayor George Flaggs said, “One of the hardest things I have to do is when I have to give my condolences to families of lost loved ones. To the family, we pray for you and we ask that you trust God. If there is anything the city can do we want to be there. It was a tragedy when I got the call this morning, just disbelief. Those young men were just beginning to start their careers in an area that they loved so well. They were doing a great job and great things for this city. The city is in mourning with the families because of the loss of these two firemen.”
Firefighter/Paramedic Jerrod Squire, 26, joined the VFD in December 2020. Firefighter/EMT Derico Davis,19, joined the VFD in November of 2022.
