Community members, first responders run to honor fallen JFRD engineer

3 years ago 234

Engineer Michael Freeland (Jacksonville Fire-Rescue photo)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Michael Freeland, 36, collapsed Thursday portion trying to rescue a U-Haul driver who was progressive successful a crash. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department technologist aboriginal died successful a hospital.

On Monday, members of the assemblage and JFRD came unneurotic successful Riverside -- walking and moving a mile successful his memory.

“Michael was peculiar to us,” said Lakeshia Holsey, Freeland’s cousin. “He was a large young man. He served his assemblage and loved his household and helium was amazing.”

They were joined immoderate 140 miles distant by Zechariah Cartlidge, a 13-year-old who lives adjacent Orlando. He ran portion holding a bladed reddish enactment flag.

He was followed by a oversea of flashing lights up a way successful Winter Springs.

“We anticipation this tally tin assistance retired his household and section done this hard clip they are dealing with,” helium said.

Cartlidge runs the nonprofit Running 4 Heroes, which honors fallen archetypal responders.

“It speaks volumes to him and who helium was and the information that helium gave his beingness to prevention a life,” said Hazel Yates-Campbell, Freeland’s aunt.

JFRD spokesperson Eric Prosswimmer said Freeland was moving with firefighters astatine the country “involving a prolonged extrication.” Fire Chief Keith Powers said firefighters had been moving for astir 30 minutes to escaped the operator of the crashed truck.

A aesculapian examiner hasn’t yet released the authoritative origin of death.