OCONEE COUNTY, Ga. — A truck went up in flames during a crash Saturday evening in Oconee County, killing the 19-year-old driver who was following in his dad's footsteps to be a firefighter.
According to Georgia State Patrol, Jackson Poole, was trapped inside of a vehicle and was unable to be rescued.
Poole, a firefighter recruit, is also the son of DeKalb County Fire & Rescue Captain Fred Poole. The 19-year-old grew up in the fire department.
"As a child, he would play on the trucks, have fun with the guys and gals, and listen to stories about firefighting," DeKalb officials said in a Facebook post. "His father Fred, a 25 year veteran of the department, couldn’t be more proud of his son for wanting to follow in his footsteps. Jackson also shared the same feelings toward his father."
He had already finished his EMT training and was in the process of finishing the fire academy, officials said.
GSP said troopers were called to State Route 24/US 441 near Tappan Spur Road around 7:55 p.m.
Authorities said two trucks were headed south on SR 24 when a green F-150 tried to pass a white F-150, but hit the white truck's driver side in the process. That caused the white truck to spin out of control before hitting a tree.
The green truck, meanwhile, also drove off the road and hit a tree before catching fire. GSP said the driver, Poole, was trapped inside of it.
"We ask you all to keep the Poole family in your prayers along with Jackson’s recruit class 112," DeKalb County Fire said. "Captain Fred Poole and his family are humbled by the support and outpouring of love received through this extremely difficult time."
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation posted photos on its Facebook page of employees who lined up outside of the medical examiner's office to honor Poole.
The crash is still under investigation.
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