Medora (IL) Fire Chief Killed in Accident (more)

Firefighters often face heartbreak as part of their job. It's a reality they must accept, but they find comfort in the hope that lessons learned from these tragic moments might prevent future losses.

The passing of Medora (Illinois) Volunteer Fire Chief Kenneth Lehr was one such heartbreaking event. His death, which seemed sudden and unnecessary, stirred strong emotions and reactions across the fire service community.

As is common after such incidents, some people immediately looked for someone to blame. In this case, it was Patrick Cullum, the firefighter/engineer who was driving the truck that ultimately led to Chief Lehr’s death.

On the afternoon of February 5th, a landing zone (LZ) was set up to transport an injured patient to a trauma center. However, the initial location was deemed unsuitable, so a second spot about a mile away was chosen. Cullum drove the fire engine from the first LZ to the second location.

As he pulled the engine off the highway near the new landing zone, Cullum noticed personnel nearby—about 10 to 15 yards away. Unbeknownst to him, Chief Lehr had been riding on the back of the truck between the two locations. In the brief moment between stopping and putting the vehicle in reverse, Lehr either fell or stepped off the tailboard. The truck ran over him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cullum has since expressed deep regret, saying he wishes he had taken an extra 10 seconds to get a spotter before reversing the truck. “Someone told me that Chief Lehr had fallen under the truck before I could stop,” he said. “It wasn’t an accident—it was my responsibility to make sure the truck was operated safely. In an accident, there’s nothing you can do to change the outcome. But this was preventable.”

The initial police report and news coverage lacked specific details about the patient’s condition, the request for medical assistance, the responding departments, and the exact locations of the landing zones. These details are expected to be clarified in the final OSHA investigation report.

Unfortunately, Cullum is not the first emergency responder to reverse a vehicle without a spotter. This kind of behavior reflects what is known as the "normalization of deviance"—a dangerous trend where risky actions become routine, similar to not wearing a seatbelt or being distracted while driving an emergency vehicle.

Medora is a small town, and the tragedy hit close to home. Following the incident, Lehr’s family asked Cullum not to attend the funeral and requested his resignation from the department. He respected their wishes and stepped down.

This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of safety protocols, communication, and vigilance—especially in high-stress, fast-paced environments like firefighting. While tragedies can never be fully prevented, they can often be minimized with proper training, awareness, and accountability.