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Coverage dated August 19, 2026 to August 21, 2026

Pleas for safety improvements after fatal crash claims life of volunteer chaplain

Headline from FOX 13 Tampa

A Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer chaplain died Wednesday morning after deputies say a dump truck driver ran a red light and struck his vehicle at an Eagle Lake intersection. Eagle Lake fatal crash Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer Chaplain Hector Cruz was leaving a fire station visit Wednesday mo…

FOX 13 Tampa's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

5 articles, oldest first.

  1. WFLA

    'Sudden tragedy': Volunteer chaplain for Polk Fire Rescue killed in car crash (opens WFLA)

    Published

    WFLA's feed description

    Polk County Fire Rescue is mourning the sudden loss of Volunteer Chaplain Hector Cruz after he was killed in a car crash Wednesday, the agency said.

  2. FOX 13 Tampa

    Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer chaplain dies on duty following Eagle Lake crash (opens FOX 13 Tampa)

    Published

    FOX 13 Tampa's feed description

    A Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer chaplain died Wednesday while driving between stations in the Eagle Lake area, according to the fire department. Polk County chaplain loss Volunteer Chaplain Hector Cruz died from injuries sustained in a car crash as he traveled between Polk County Fire Rescue sta…

  3. FOX 13 Tampa

    Polk County Fire Rescue mourns volunteer chaplain killed in crash (opens FOX 13 Tampa)

    Published

    FOX 13 Tampa's feed description

    A beloved Polk County Fire Rescue chaplain died Wednesday morning when a dump truck ran a red light and crashed into his car in Eagle Lake. Tragic intersection crash in Eagle Lake Hector Cruz served as a volunteer chaplain for Polk County Fire Rescue for four years in the Winter Haven area.

  4. WFLA

    Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer chaplain killed in line of duty (opens WFLA)

    Published

    WFLA's feed description

    Polk County Fire Rescue is mourning the loss of one of their own after a volunteer chaplain was killed in a crash in the line of duty.

  5. FOX 13 Tampa

    Pleas for safety improvements after fatal crash claims life of volunteer chaplain (opens FOX 13 Tampa)

    Published

    FOX 13 Tampa's feed description

    A Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer chaplain died Wednesday morning after deputies say a dump truck driver ran a red light and struck his vehicle at an Eagle Lake intersection. Eagle Lake fatal crash Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer Chaplain Hector Cruz was leaving a fire station visit Wednesday mo…