Two men died early Friday morning in an all-terrain vehicle accident in Callahan County, according to a release from the Texas Department of Public Safety later that day.
In their preliminary investigation, DPS found that Hunter Blake Patterson, 31, of Abilene and Brett Cole Underwood, 29, of Clyde were in an ATV when they exited a field on the west side of State Highway 36 just over 2 miles south of Potosi near County Road 228 at 1 a.m., the media release said.
They entered the southbound highway with Patterson driving a Polaris Ranger side-by-side ATV, the DPS said.
Also traveling south was Alfonso Martinez, 42, of Royse City in a 2020 Toyota Corolla, the DPS said. His vehicle collided with the rear of the ATV, sending it off the west side of the road where it overturned.
Not wearing seatbelts, the two men were ejected, and the ATV subsequently caught fire, the DPS said.
Martinez was taken to Hendrick Medical Center North and then flown to UMC Lubbock, police said. Patterson and Underwood died at the scene.
Abilene Fire Department statement
Patterson was a member of the Abilene Fire Department for 11 years. He was off duty at the time of the accident.
In a statement released on Friday, the department mourned the deaths.
“This is a devastating loss for Hunter’s family and our department. Hunter was a respected and beloved member of the AFD,” they wrote. “Hunter leaves behind his wife and children, as well as numerous other family members and friends.
“The loss of both men has greatly impacted members of our department. We ask that our wonderful community keep both families in their thoughts and prayers, while also respecting their privacy at this difficult time.”
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: UPDATED: Abilene firefighter and his friend killed in crash
Reporting by Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
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