Walker County has fired both the Fleet Director, Ricky Carr, and a newly hired mechanic, John Chance Pendergrass, after a firetruck crash that resulted in the vehicle overturning and catching fire.

The firetruck, valued at $640,000, was involved in an accident on Old Lafayette Road. Pendergrass was driving when he reportedly lost control while approaching railroad tracks and claimed that the brakes failed. However, it was later revealed that he did not have the required commercial driver’s license to operate the firetruck, which led to him being cited by the Georgia State Patrol.

Conflicting statements arose about whether Carr had authorized Pendergrass to take the firetruck for a test drive. Pendergrass insisted that Carr was unaware of the drive. After the crash, he mentioned that the truck’s Anti-lock Braking System warning light had come on, and he believed a low voltage issue might have caused it. Nonetheless, a trooper’s report indicated that tire marks showed the truck had gone off the road before any attempt to brake.

Walker County Chairwoman Angie Teems criticized Carr’s lack of oversight, stating he prioritized convenience over safety and failed to manage his team properly. The firetruck was only covered by liability insurance, raising concerns about potential costs to taxpayers for its replacement or repairs. Teems deemed the terminations necessary due to the serious results of the incident and the disagreements in the accounts of events.