SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Tuesday afternoon announced one of the search and rescue task force members involved in a major crash while heading to the East Coast to assist with Hurricane Helene relief efforts has been released from the hospital. The fire-rescue department also identified the other victims who are still in the hospital.
Three San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Urban Search & Rescue California Task Force 8 members were seriously injured in a car accident at 2:45 a.m. (CST) Sunday on East Highway 20 near the border of Texas and Louisiana while heading to Charlotte, North Carolina to help with Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
All three task force members — a battalion chief and two captains — were flown by air ambulance to Louisiana State University Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana for treatment of moderate to critical injuries.
In an update on Tuesday, the fire-rescue department announced Captain Greg Davies has been released from the hospital and posted photos of Capt. Davies and other task force members with a crisis response canine, however they said it is still unclear when he will return to San Diego. Capt. Davies joined SDFD in 2009 and has been a member of CA-TF8 since 2017. He serves as the planning team manager.
The fire-rescue department also identified the other injured task force members who are still in the hospital — Battalion Chief Aide Barbat and Captain Jesse Shultz. The department says no additional medical information will be shared at this time.
Chaplains, support K-9’s and peer support teams remain in Louisiana to help the families of the injured firefighters and the other task force members.
The community can donate to support the firefighters and their families during this time at classy.org/campaign/sdfd-firefighters-critically-injured-in-line-of-duty/c624526.
