Missouri Deputy Killed In Crash While Responding

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JAIME BARANYAI
Courtesy of the News-Leader

A Greene County sheriff's deputy killed this morning while responding to a crash was hit broadside by a volunteer firefighter responding to the same call, Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Dan Bracker said at an 11 a.m. news conference at the sheriff's department.

Gary D. McCormack, 33, of Republic died in the collision with a pickup truck driven by Joshua Douglas, a volunteer firefighter with the Ebenezer Fire District, Bracker said. McCormack was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident occurred on Farm Road 145 at Greene County WW north of Springfield, officials said. McCormack was apparently westbound on WW when he was hit broadside, Bracker said at the news conference.

Douglas was taken to St. John's Hospital in Springfield and admitted to the intensive care unit, Ebenezer Fire Chief Leonard Smith said.

Bracker said McCormack's emergency lights were on at the time of the crash, and that it was too early to assign blame to either driver. No further details were given about the crash due to the ongoing investigation.

McCormack, who is survived by a wife and two kids, had been a deputy with the sheriff's department for four months, Greene County Sheriff Jack Merritt said. He was a Republic police officer for seven years prior to joining the sheriff's department, Merritt said.

"This is the darkest moment in the life of the Greene County Sheriff's Department and the family of Greene County," Merritt said with tears in his eyes. "It's been my prayer that as sheriff I would never have to deal with this."

Merritt also spoke of McCormack's wife and two children, a 1-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. "...Daddy's not coming home..."

It's the first time a Greene County deputy has died in the line of duty in 40 years, the last death being in 1967, Bracker said. The last death happened when a deputy was shot while responding to a robbery, Merritt said.

"Our hearts go out to the family of the deputy and we ask everyone to keep us in their prayers," Smith said.

The accident the two men were responding to was never found, Bracker said. He said officials are still investigating that incident.

Reporter Dirk VanderHart contributed to this story.