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Longtime firefighter fatally hit while helping crash victims, Mississippi officials say

A firefighter was trying to help victims of a rollover crash when he was fatally struck, Mississippi officials said.
A firefighter was trying to help victims of a rollover crash when he was fatally struck, Mississippi officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto

A longtime volunteer firefighter was fatally struck while helping victims of a crash in Mississippi, officials say.

Philip Allan was trying to help victims of a rollover crash on U.S. 49 when he was hit by another vehicle, according to a May 17 Facebook post from the Seminary Police Department. He died from his injuries.

Allan was a longtime firefighter and first responder in the Covington County and Simpson County areas, police said.

State troopers said they responded to a one-vehicle wreck on Highway 49, WDAM reported. Allan passed the crash and stopped to help.

While walking across the highway, he was struck by a Chevrolet Equinox, troopers told the news outlet.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol did not immediately return McClatchy News’ request for comment.

People shared tributes for Allan on social media.

“This has really broken my heart! Philip had the greatest servant heart ever,” one person wrote in a Facebook post. “What a tragic loss. He died serving others ... which just sums up what I already knew about him.”

“He loved to talk and tell stories! If something was going on you could bank on it that Phillip was always there to help and could tell you all about it,” another person posted. “He will be missed by so many!”

He will be missed tremendously,” a third person commented.

Covington County is about 60 miles southeast of Jackson.

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This story was originally published May 19, 2023 at 10:51 AM with the headline "Longtime firefighter fatally hit while helping crash victims, Mississippi officials say."

Moira Ritter
mcclatchy-newsroom
Moira Ritter covers real-time news for McClatchy. She is a graduate of Georgetown University where she studied government, journalism and German. Previously, she reported for CNN Business.
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