WAYNE COUNTY, Ohio — A Town and Country firefighter has died and an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper was injured after being struck on I-71 southbound near State Route 301 in Wayne County Monday.
Authorities held a news conference with updates at about 3 p.m. Tuesday. Watch it below:
According to troopers, authorities initially arrived on the scene of a single-vehicle crash around 3:15 p.m.
Authorities said the trooper and firefighter were finishing up documentation of the crash when a commercial vehicle hit their vehicles around 4 p.m. as well as the initial car involved in the crash.
The trooper was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The firefighter, 35-year-old Lieutenant Philip M. Wigal, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wigal has been a member of the Town and Country Fire Department since 2006.
Flags lowered to honor firefighter
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered United States and State of Ohio flags be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Wayne County, the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center and the Rhodes State Officer Tower in honor of Wigal.
Flags shall remain lowered until sunset on the day of his funeral, which will be held on April 15.
Departments offer condolences and prayers
