UPDATE: 2 Albany firefighters now stable after chain reaction crash at funeral service

SYLVESTER, Ga. (WALB) - While attending the funeral service of Worth County High School student, Trenton Melton, two Albany firefighters were injured in a chain reaction accident in the parking lot of Antioch Baptist Church in Sylvester.

Trenton Melton is the son of firefighter Casey Melton. Many firefighters were in attendance to show support and love for the grieving family.

The two firefighters injured in the incident are Ricky Thompson and Danny Hancock. Thompson is a battalion chief and Hancock is a captain.

They were life-flighted to Tallahassee, Florida for medical treatment and are now in stable condition.

Two others were taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Georgia State Patrol told WALB that a Dodge Ram lost control and drove into a parking lot hitting five vehicles and three people.

The driver was identified as 61-year-old William Perkins, of Albany. He is suspected to have had a medical emergency before the crash.

WALB was told by Jared Farr, an Albany firefighter, that Hancock is in the ICU and still on a machine that can help him breathe but he was able to give everyone a thumbs up that he’s okay. Thompson is also very responsive and is talking to everyone.

It was already a sad day for the Albany Fire Department (AFD) family as they were here in Sylvester to support another firefighter who was burying his son.

WALB was told Thompson and Hancock were standing outside of the church just before the funeral started when that car came driving into the parking lot hitting two cars and pinning the two under those cars.

The Albany Fire Department family immediately helped give medical attention. Hancock reportedly suffered a collapsed lung while Thompson had some broken ribs and other broken bones. The driver also received medical treatment on the scene and was taken to the hospital. The AFD family is asking for any and everyone to pray for everybody impacted.

“It’s a horrible thing to witness something that such a freak nature as this accident was,” Farr said. “The fire department is a family and we’re all there for each other on duty or off duty and, unfortunately, this accident happened while we were showing up to support our family. It’s a sad day. I mean, Chief Thompson and Lt. Hancock are 20-year veterans of the Albany Fire Department and fire departments in the surrounding county. They’re a big influence. So, we’re wishing them a speedy recovery. We’re asking for your prayers and your thoughts from the community.”

The Albany Fire Department has now issued a statement following the incident.

A lot of the AFD family is in Tallahassee to support both firefighters and their families. Georgia State Patrol is investigating the incident.

We will update you as soon as more information is received.

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