A 26-year-classic man from the Bronx has been identified as the driver in a devastating crash that killed 2 Walnuttown firefighters on Saturday evening in Northern Berks County. Authorities confirmed the driver was under the influence at the time of the collision, which occurred while the first responders were actively engaged in a search-and-rescue operation.
The victims have been identified as Walnuttown Fire Chief Jeffory L. Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert R. Shick, Jr., both residents of Maidencreek Township. The loss of the department’s two highest-ranking officers marks a profound blow to the local emergency services community.
Police have identified the driver as Alexander Sepulveda-Rivera. According to investigators, Sepulveda-Rivera was traveling south on Kutztown Road in a Toyota Camry with a passenger when the vehicle veered off the roadway and struck the firefighters’ vehicle head-on.
A search operation turned tragedy
The incident began at approximately 5:57 p.m. On Saturday in Richmond Township. Multiple fire companies, along with Berks County Search and Rescue and other regional agencies, had been deployed to locate a missing 60-year-old woman in the area of Kutztown Road, just north of Route 662.
Chief Buck and Assistant Chief Shick were operating a UTV side-by-side vehicle, a common tool for navigating off-road terrain during search operations. At the time of the crash, the two men were traveling on the shoulder of Kutztown Road to facilitate the search effort.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the Toyota Camry driven by Sepulveda-Rivera was swerving before it left the pavement and collided directly with the UTV. The force of the head-on impact left both firefighters with critical injuries.
Flight from the scene and apprehension
Following the collision, investigators say Sepulveda-Rivera and his passenger did not remain at the scene to render aid. Instead, both individuals fled on foot. Law enforcement officers launched an immediate search of the surrounding area, eventually apprehending the pair a short distance away on Krause Road.
The subsequent investigation by the Fleetwood police and the District Attorney’s Office revealed that Sepulveda-Rivera was under the influence at the time he was operating the vehicle. This detail has shifted the investigation from a traffic accident to a criminal homicide probe.
| Time/Stage | Event Detail |
|---|---|
| 5:57 p.m. | Search begins for missing 60-year-old woman near Kutztown Road. |
| Collision | Toyota Camry swerves off road, striking UTV head-on. |
| Post-Impact | Driver and passenger flee on foot; captured on Krause Road. |
| Medical | Chief Buck and Assistant Chief Shick transported to hospitals. |
| Monday | Autopsies scheduled at Lehigh County Coroner’s Office. |
Medical outcomes and community loss
The severity of the impact required immediate air and ground transport for the two officers. Chief Buck was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, while Assistant Chief Shick was transported to Reading Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, both men succumbed to their injuries.
The deaths of Buck and Shick represent a significant vacuum in leadership for the Walnuttown Fire Department. Both men were deeply embedded in the Maidencreek Township community, serving in roles that required high levels of coordination and crisis management.
The Walnuttown Fire Department has utilized its social media presence to share updates and coordinate support for the families of the fallen chiefs. Autopsies for both men are scheduled for Monday morning at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Forensic Center to formally document the cause of death.
Legal repercussions and pending charges
The District Attorney’s Office is currently finalizing the criminal filing against Alexander Sepulveda-Rivera. Based on the evidence of intoxication and the resulting fatalities, officials stated that Sepulveda-Rivera is expected to be charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.
Under Pennsylvania law, homicide by vehicle while DUI is a severe felony, reflecting the heightened culpability of a driver who causes death while impaired. The investigation remains ongoing as police work to determine if the passenger in the Camry played any role in the events leading up to the crash.
Disclaimer: This report involves ongoing legal proceedings. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The next confirmed step in the legal process is the formal filing of charges by the District Attorney’s Office, expected within a 24-to-48-hour window following the initial apprehension. Further updates will be provided as court dates are set and autopsy results are released.
We invite readers to share their memories of Chief Buck and Assistant Chief Shick in the comments below.
