Autopsy: Blunt Force Trauma Killed Texas Firefighter, Not Burns

EASTLAND, Texas — A state trooper say a volunteer firefighter's cause of death was blunt force trauma and not burns, citing a preliminary autopsy report.

Standing in front of a burned out fire truck, volunteer firefighter Steve Forbus pauses while he talks about the firefighter that was killed while trying to escape a wildfire that burned the truck in Eastland County near Gorman, Texas, Saturday, April 16, 2011. "It was a very emotional day for us," said Forbus. Volunteer firefighter Gregory M. Simmons, 51, died as he and other firefighters fled the truck as it was being overrun by flames. Simmons fell in a ditch where the fire caught him, according to an official. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Images: Texas Wildfire Overruns Fire Truck

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In a statement Saturday, the city of Eastland called it a "tragic turn" in the death of firefighter Gregory Simmons.

Eastland officials earlier said the 51-year-old died Friday after flames overcame his fire truck and he and other firefighters jumped out.

Justice of the Peace James King said Friday that Simmons apparently was overcome by smoke and fell in a ditch.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is now leading the investigation.

State Trooper Phillip "Sparky" Dean said Saturday authorities don't yet know if Simmons died in a crash of the fire truck, or if he was fatally injured after getting out of the vehicle.

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