Douglas collided with Greene County Deputy Gary McCormack north of Springfield near Ebenezer shortly after 4 a.m. on Oct. 6. McCormack was racing to a reported accident on Missouri 13. Douglas was racing to the Ebenezer fire station to get an engine so he could respond to the same accident.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol found Douglas at fault. He was on Farm Road 145 and had a stop sign. McCormack was on Highway WW and had no stop sign at the intersection. Both men were using emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles.

A former co-worker and friend, Sgt. Jamie Burks, thinks McCormack every day.

“There wasn't a better person than Gary McCormack,” said Burks.

Those memories came rushing back once he heard criminal charges were filed against Douglas. Investigators say Douglas failed to stop at a stop sign. Highway patrol reconstruction video shows Douglas hit the driver's side of McCormack's patrol car, causing it to veer off the road and overturn.

“Anytime you disobey a traffic law, the chance for this greatly increases,”

“Traffic laws still apply to emergency responders. They're still obligated to follow traffic laws as they respond to a call,” said Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore.

The prosecutor says Douglas did not receive special treatment because he's a volunteer firefighter.

“We would treat this like any other accident,” he said. “There are reasons these are called accidents. And it's unfortunate someone was killed but it doesn't mean every one should be a felony.”

Burks wouldn't comment on the charges but he does hope the accident results in changes outside the courtroom.

“I hope this brings awareness that there needs to be more training in evasive driving when responding to accident, fires or whatever the case may be,” said Burks.

Douglas appeared in court on Wednesday and a judge set his next court appearance for April 30.
----

PAST REPORT

Accident report reinforces need for caution for emergency responders