Submitted by a fellow firefighter
Sammie served the Swannanoa Volunteer Fire Department from 11/4/1985-02/23/1989.
The SVFD responded to an MVA on Interstate 40 during a snowstorm. The roads were snow and ice covered. All members and apparatus were in the emergency lane with the first accident victims. A tractor trailer‚ traveling over 50mph lost control and jackknifed. The tractor trailer first struck Firefighter Waddell’s POV. He was in front of it. His daughter was ejected from the vehicle before the vehicle came to rest. Firefighter Glenn Hensley and his POV were struck next. The impact sent him 130′ further down the highway and caused his pickup to become airborne‚ flip 360 degrees and ejected his son (Now an employee at SVFD) who had been sitting in the vehicle. Firefighter Pierson was pushed into the rescue truck as Firefighter Hensley’s truck struck it. Results: Firefighter Waddell-killed in the line-of-duty; Firefighter Waddell’s daughter-injured; Firefighter Hensley-seriously injured; Firefighter Hensley’s son-injured.
Sammie was a Board of Director member.
My daddy. 28 years this year 2017
– Dana WaddellJust looked at my calendar again today to see which day Feb 23rd landed on this year. I still feel blessed to have had him in my life and career and couldn’t even begin to tell how many times in a given week I think about him even after 29 years.
– Larry PiersonToday I am sitting here working on my degree with a class in Fire Law, reviewing case law of an incident similar to what we experienced. Thank you Jesus for the Waddell family in my life and thank you Jesus for helping with the healing.