North Texas first responders mourn firefighter, reserve officer killed in motorcycle crash
A North Texas firefighter and reserve police officer was killed in a motorcycle crash in Parker County on Tuesday afternoon.
Josh Brandes, who was an Irving firefighter and a reserve officer with the Decatur Police Department, died in the accident.
“It is with heavy heart that the Irving Fire Department reports the off-duty passing of our Brother, Fire Equipment Operator Joshua Brandes,” the Fire Department said in a statement. “FEO Brandes selflessly served the City of Irving for over thirteen years and will be missed by all. Please keep his family, and the members of this department, in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve his loss.”
Brandes also worked for the Decatur Police Department for about three years and served as a school resource officer at several Decatur ISD schools, Decatur Police Chief Delvon Campbell told the Wise County Messenger.
“This is a tragic deal for us, for his family, and everybody who knew him,” Campbell told the Messenger. “He was full of energy, and there was never a dull moment with Josh.”
The Springtown Police Department and other Parker County agencies responded to the fatal crash. Springtown police said in a Facebook post that the accident was reported around 1:25 p.m. on FM 51 South near Lynch Bend Road. The road was closed for almost three hours between Texas 199 and Browder Lane.
A procession of law enforcement officers and other first responders escorted Brandes’ body to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“He helped us a lot as an SRO,” Campbell told the Messenger. “He was just a good guy, a good family man and a great member of our community.”
This story was originally published October 1, 2024 at 10:28 PM.
