The Meridian Fire Department is mourning the death of a firefighter following a crash Friday morning while his truck was en route to an emergency call.
Firefighter Eric Gustafson, 40, originally of New Orleans, was killed and two colleagues were seriously injured when their fire truck rolled over around 9 a.m. on Old Eighth Street Road near the Jaycee soccer complex.
The death and injuries were confirmed by Meridian Fire Chief Anthony Clayton and Mayor Percy Bland. Firefighter Gustafson's identity was released late Friday afternoon by Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler.
Firefighter Gustafson was the driver of the truck.
“We had an auto accident this morning involving Engine 3,” Clayton said in a statement. “It wrecked on the way to a run, responding to an equipment trailer that was on fire. The next thing we knew we were getting a call from central a truck had flipped. The Deputy Chief and I immediately left Central, along with Metro Ambulance, Meridian Police Department, the Sheriff’s Department. Everyone pitched in to help. Unfortunately one of our firefighters passed away at the scene."