Trent Hills Firefighter Killed In Highway 401 Crash

The firefighting community of Trent Hills is devastated after one of their own was killed in a highway collision on Friday morning on Highway 401.

Quinte West OPP said at approximately 12:26 a.m. on June 29, 2018 officers with the Napanee Detachment responded to the area of Highway 401 eastbound between Glen Miller Road and Wallbridge Loyalist Road.  The collision involved five tractor trailers.

One person died in the collision and has been identified as Roger Esson, a 47-year-old man from Trent Hills.

Esson worked for Durham Transport and also was a firefighter with the Hastings Fire Station in the Municipality of Trent Hills for 19-years with a number of them as Captain..

“It’s very, very shocking,” said Trent Hills Fire Chief Tim Blake.

“First and foremost our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

“Roger was a quiet guy, but a firefighter at the scene where you didn’t have to ask twice to do something.”

Blake said Esson, “lead by example at fire scenes and has always been that way.  He never complained, just went about his business.”

Esson and his wife Michelle were heavily involved in the Canada Day fireworks for many years leading the charge each year.

“Year in, year out, he’s the lead technician and together with Michelle they worked on it.”

“In my opinion it was the best in the area, or even Ontario.”

There are a few citizens on the committee along with other firefighters.

Another firefighter who works at Durham Transport called Blake to break the news to him on Friday morning at approximately 7 a.m.

“He’s got a great family and it’s just a shame.  A real tragedy.”

The firefighting family of the Trent Hills Fire Department got together in Hastings at 7 p.m. to share in their grief and help each other through the tragic time.

“We’ll talk about it tonight and get through it as a family.”

“We don’t know why bad things happen to good people and it’s something we’ve seen before.”

First Visitation

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Brett Hastings Chapel

Address

76 Bridge Street North

Hastings, ON

K0L 1Y0

 

Second Visitation

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Brett Hastings Chapel

Address

76 Bridge Street North

Hastings, ON

K0L 1Y0

 

Service

Wednesday, July 4th, 2018 1:30pm

Officiating

Reverend Jamie York

Brett Hastings Chapel

Address

76 Bridge Street North

Hastings, ON

K0L 1Y0