DUI Driver Kills Two Volunteer Fire Chiefs Responding to a Call

What we know

According to authorities, the crash occurred around 6:00 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2026, on Kutztown Road in Richmond Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Buck and Shick were riding in a side-by-side utility vehicle as part of a search effort for a missing woman when a Toyota Camry crossed into their lane and struck them head-on.

Both men were transported to area hospitals, where they were later pronounced dead. The driver of the Camry, identified as Alexander Sepulveda-Rivera, 26, of New York, fled the scene on foot but was located nearby. He and a passenger had both fled the wreckage. Sepulveda-Rivera is currently being held on an outstanding warrant.

According to the Berks County District Attorney, DUI and vehicular homicide charges are expected to be filed. The investigation is ongoing.

The victims: A lifetime of service

Fire Chief Jeffory Buck and Assistant Chief Robert Shick Jr. were not strangers to the Walnuttown Fire Company. They had been members since their teenage years, dedicating decades of their lives to protecting their community. They were volunteers; ordinary citizens who chose to spend their weekends and evenings training, responding to emergencies, and putting themselves in harm's way for no pay and little recognition.
Lt. Ryan Tyson of the Walnuttown Fire Company was the first to arrive at the crash scene. He recognized the severity immediately.

"To be honest, panic," Tyson said, describing his initial reaction. "We're accustomed to going to calls where we most of the time don't know the occupants, the involved parties." But this time, he knew them. He spoke to Buck and Shick before they were taken from the scene. "I said some words to them. I believe that they knew I was there."

A procession and a community's grief

On Sunday evening, first responders from across the Lehigh Valley gathered for a procession from Reading Hospital to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. The route was lined with community members paying their respects. The Walnuttown Fire Company will remain out of service until next Saturday, with neighboring agencies handling calls in the meantime. Autopsies for Buck and Shick were scheduled for Monday.

Tyson said the department's focus now is on supporting its members. "Not something that you're ever prepared for but my main focus is making sure that my members going forward are in a good space," he said. "We all take care of each other and the biggest thing is the legacy that those two chiefs are gonna leave behind."

In a bittersweet note, Tyson added that the missing woman they had been searching for was found safe Saturday night. Their mission, even in the face of tragedy, was accomplished.

The legal aftermath

Sepulveda-Rivera faces severe legal consequences. In Pennsylvania, vehicular homicide while DUI is a first-degree felony, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison per count, meaning up to 40 years if convicted on both counts. Additional charges may include:

• Leaving the scene of an accident involving death (a second-degree felony)
• Driving under the influence
• Reckless driving

The fact that Sepulveda-Rivera fled the scene will almost certainly be an aggravating factor in both the criminal case and any subsequent civil litigation.

What this means for our readers

This devastating incident, while still under investigation, underscores several critical points about impaired driving and its consequences.

1. DUI hurts more than just the driver: Sepulveda-Rivera's alleged choice to drive while impaired did not merely endanger himself. It took the lives of two men who were actively serving their community. It orphaned their families, left a firehouse without two leaders, and sent shockwaves through an entire region
2. Fleeing compounds the crime: Leaving the scene of a crash, especially a fatal one, is a separate, serious felony. It demonstrates consciousness of guilt and can lead to enhanced sentences. Had Sepulveda-Rivera stayed, rendered aid, and cooperated, the legal outcome might still have been severe, but the additional charge of fleeing would not apply
3. First responders are at elevated risk: When you see emergency lights on the side of the road, the law requires you to slow down and move over. This crash is a tragic reminder that those who protect us are themselves vulnerable, especially when they are outside traditional emergency vehicles
4. The civil justice path: Beyond criminal charges, the families of Buck and Shick have the right to pursue wrongful death claims against Sepulveda-Rivera. Such claims can help cover medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and the immense loss of companionship. In cases involving DUI, punitive damages may also be available. These are designed specifically to punish egregious conduct and deter others.

Lt. Ryan Tyson spoke for his department and his community when he reflected on the legacy of the two chiefs. "They paid the ultimate sacrifice." They were volunteers. They did not have to be there. But they were, because that is who they were. Their deaths are a profound loss, but their example of selfless service endures.

Our deepest condolences go out to the families of Fire Chief Jeffory Buck and Assistant Chief Robert Shick Jr., to the members of the Walnuttown Fire Company, and to the entire Berks County community.

If you or a loved one has been injured by an impaired driver, the independent attorneys we connect you with have the experience to pursue both criminal accountability and civil compensation, ensuring that families receive the support they need to rebuild after a devastating loss.