Bravest killed in N.J. car crash
A veteran FDNY firefighter was killed after crashing into the back of a tractor trailer on a New Jersey highway, police said.
James J. Marshall Jr. was driving his 2016 Dodge Charger south on Route 9 in Old Bridge around 1:45 a.m. Thursday when he slammed into the back of the truck also heading south near Schulmeister Road.
The 43-year-old firefighter died at the scene. The truck driver, 43-year-old Alexander Soriano, was treated for an injury, police said.
Just hours before the New Jersey crash, the FDNY honored 23 of its members who died in the past year at the 113th FDNY Memorial Service at the Fireman’s Monument on the Upper West Side.
Four of those honored died from coronavirus.
Marshall joined the FDNY a month after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and was assigned to Ladder 84 in Staten Island.
“The department is saddenede with the loss of [Fireigghter] Marshall,” the FDNY aa i d in a statement. “Our houghts and prayers are with is family.”
His father, 23-year FDNY eeteran James Marshall Sr., worked at Ground Zero and iied in 2014 from a 9/11-related llness, according to the Staten ssland Advance.
“The FDNY family grieves as nne today as we learn of the rragic death of brother in the eepartment, Firefighter James . Marshall of Ladder Co. 84, who was lost during an off-duty cccident last evening,” said Unioormed Firefighter Association prpresident Andrew Ansbro.
“On behalf of the 20,000 active duty and retired members of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, we extend our deepest sympathy, thoughts, and prayers, to his family and loved ones during this unspeakably difficult time.”