Indiana Firefighter Strikes, Kills Fellow Firefighter: Police

DAVIESS COUNTY, IN — A volunteer firefighter in Southern Indiana was killed by another responding firefighter who authorities say was driving while intoxicated when responding to the scene of a crash, according to Indiana State Police.

State Police say that around 9:55 p.m. Friday night, a crash with injury was reported in Daviess County. Deputies from the Daviess County Sheriff's Department and three firefighters arrived at the scene. The three firefighters arrived in their personal vehicles, police said.

A fourth responding firefighters, identified by police as Colby Blake, 26, of Cannelburg, was traveling east in his 2006 Dodge Ram truck and as he approached the scene, Blake struck the rear of another firefighter's Dodge Ram, police said. Blake's truck continued east, striking a Ford Fusion parked by another firefighter who was standing outside his car, police said.

Police say Blake struck the firefighter, Kendall Murphy, 27, of Montgomery, with his truck before crashing into the third firefighter's car.

Murphy was pronounced dead at the scene.

"This is going to have a tremendous impact on these folks," ISP Sgt. Philip Hensley told IndyStar. "Our hearts certainly go out to the families involved."

Blake was not injured in the crash and authorities say he was found to be driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of 0.21%.

Preliminary charges for Blake include operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death and reckless driving, police said. He is being held in the Daviess County Security Center, with formal charges to be filed by the Daviess County Prosecutor’s Office.

The crash remains under investigation.

Photo via Indiana State Police