An Alachua, Florida man became Baker County’s 11th traffic fatality of 2010 when his southbound pickup drifted into the opposite lane on SR 121 the morning of November 22 and was slammed by a northbound limerock truck.
Firefighter Robert H. Gasche, 54, died at the scene just north of the Union County line and the truck driver, 50-year-old Matthew L. Ellis of Branford, was airlifted to Shands Gainesville with serious injuries. Florida Highway Patrol said the pickup had veered onto the east shoulder when the driver steered it back to the right and directly into the path of the semi-truck, which then struck it on the left side.
Both vehicles careened onto the west shoulder and the trailer laden with limerock overturned.
Mr. Gasche was a 21-year veteran firefighter with the City of Gainesville and was returning from a hunting trip in Georgia. Baker County chief Richard Dolan said the victim was due back for the 8:00 am shift. The accident happened at 6:20 am.
Chief Dolan escorted Mr. Gasche’s body back to Gainesville, where it was taken to the medical examiner’s office.
“The chief [in Gainesville] said he had an exemplary work record and they had started out as firemen together. He was always on time and when he didn’t show up they began looking for him,” said Mr. Dolan.
