All,
Police claim driver who killed 2 Berks Co. Fire Chiefs in crash had ‘crack pipe.’ The driver, Alexander Sepvulveda Rivera, 26, with a history of criminality, claimed to cops that he fell asleep at the wheel before causing the crash that killed Fire Chief Jeffory L. Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert R. Shick, Jr., of the Walnuttown Fire Company of Fleetwood, PA, on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
Sepulveda Rivera was charged with hit and run, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, and other related charges. Sepulveda Rivera and the passenger of the car fled the scene but were later tracked down and arrested. Sepulveda Rivera was arraigned Monday morning; bail was set at $500,000, which he was unable to post.
THE CRASH
Chief Buck and Assistant Chief Shick were in a side-by-side utility vehicle that was on the southbound shoulder of Route 222, facing north, in search of a missing 60-year-old woman when the crash happened shortly before 1800. The woman was found later Saturday evening.
The car driven by Sepulveda Rivera was weaving as it traveled southbound. It went onto the shoulder and hit the fire company’s utility task vehicle. Cops arrived to find the car with heavy front-end damage against a utility pole. The fire department vehicle was on its side with both Chiefs still in it.
A witness saw a man and a woman get out of the car and flee, but cops found and nabbed the pair after a witness called 911 to report seeing them walking not far from the crash location.
Sepulveda Rivera had smoked marijuana, and the marijuana and a crack pipe found in the car were determined to be his. He was transported to a local hospital for a blood test, the results of which are pending.
Governor Shapiro ordered that Commonwealth flags remain lowered to half-staff until the date of interment, which has not yet been announced.
There is a press conference scheduled for today, Tuesday, 4/7.
UPCOMING EVENT REGISTRATION REMINDERS:
-FRCE-NFFF Firefighter Mental Wellness Symposium
Event Dates: May 31 – June 3, 2026
Location: Iowa Memorial Union, 125 N. Madison Street, Iowa City, IA 52245
https://firstrespondercenter.
-FDNY Search & Rescue Field Medicine Symposium
May 14-17, 2026
https://www.fdnypro.org/srfm/
-FDIC (More Details Next Week)
April 20-25, 2026, in Indianapolis
There is still time to register for the classrooms, some workshops, some H.O.T. (Hands-On Training) Evolutions, as well as visiting over 800 exhibitors.
https://www.fdic.com/
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass it On.
BillyG
The Secret List 4/7/2026-0800 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
