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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Motorway blaze crash fireman dies | Motorway blaze crash fireman dies |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| A firefighter died after being hit by a car as he tackled a fire in another vehicle on a motorway. | A firefighter died after being hit by a car as he tackled a fire in another vehicle on a motorway. |
| Paul Mallaghan, 46, was putting out the fire in a Saab car on the A1 (M), in Hertfordshire, when the crash happened. | Paul Mallaghan, 46, was putting out the fire in a Saab car on the A1 (M), in Hertfordshire, when the crash happened. |
| He was fatally injured when the Saab was struck by a VW Golf, between J7 and J8 near Stevenage, on Saturday night. | He was fatally injured when the Saab was struck by a VW Golf, between J7 and J8 near Stevenage, on Saturday night. |
| Mr Mallaghan, who was based at Stevenage fire station, died later in hospital. Another firefighter was also taken to hospital with injuries. | Mr Mallaghan, who was based at Stevenage fire station, died later in hospital. Another firefighter was also taken to hospital with injuries. |
| The cause of the incident and the exact circumstances surrounding it are being investigated, Hertfordshire Police said. | The cause of the incident and the exact circumstances surrounding it are being investigated, Hertfordshire Police said. |
| 'Absolute tragedy' | |
| The driver of the Golf car was also treated in hospital. | The driver of the Golf car was also treated in hospital. |
| Chief Fire Officer Roy Wilsher said: "This is an absolute tragedy and we are completely devastated. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Paul's family at this very sad time." | Chief Fire Officer Roy Wilsher said: "This is an absolute tragedy and we are completely devastated. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Paul's family at this very sad time." |
| Mr Mallaghan was from the same Blue Watch in Stevenage where two firefighters died in February 2005 in a fire at a flat. | |
| Tony Smith, brigade secretary for the Fire Brigades Union in Hertfordshire, said: "The brigade and the watch were just starting to get over the loss of firefighters Jeff Wornham and Mike Miller. | |
| "To lose three fire-fighters from the same watch at two separate incidents is cruel beyond imagination." |