TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— A firefighter who worked in many areas of Indiana was honored Monday as a procession took his body from Terre Haute to Bloomington.
Captain Leroy Terrell died in the early hours of February 15 on his way to work. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, slick conditions likely caused the vehicle to slide off the roadway and crash into the woods. Terrell was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to Vigo County for an autopsy. On the way back to Monroe County, a procession of many vehicles followed Terrell in honor of his loss.
“As his mother my hearts broke,” said Debbie Terrell, mother of Leroy Terrell. “But he died doing what he wanted to do. He was on his way to work, and he worked in several counties, several departments and that’s what he wanted.”
Captain Terrell served many different roles and in those various departments. According to a Facebook post from Pleasant Run Fire Department, Terrell served as Captain and Medical Training Officer at Pleasant Run Fire Department, as well as a Firefighter/EMT with Monroe Fire District, Lawrence County Fire Territory, and Ellettsville Fire Department. According to a post from Lawrence County Fire Territory, Terrell, who had worked there since its inception, had just finished his EMT-B certification, had just received his Instructor I certification, and recently had spent his weekend off training at the Winter Fire School and was excited to share what he’d learned with his colleagues. All the posts said Terrell was a hard worker with a passion for the job.
“He was fulfilling his life’s dream, and you know I get some peace there knowing that he actually got to do what he wanted to do with his life.” said Robert Terrell, father of Leroy Terrell.
Monroe Fire Protection District listed Terrell as “a dedicated member with multiple agencies in both Monroe and Lawrence County”. The Pleasant Run Fire Department described him as “not just a firefighter, but a brother, a mentor, and a friend… Captain Leroy Terrell was a dedicated public servant whose impact stretched across many departments and countless lives.”
