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Twitter| 11/6/2008 3:30 AM | Email this article  • Print this article  |
Fellow officers, firefighters remember Burnfield This article has been read 2909 times. By Kathie O. Warco, Staff writer There were some smiles and laughs. And there were a few tears as they remembered their comrade who was killed Tuesday afternoon doing what he did best - helping others.
The 27-year-old police officer was on his way back to the station with two other officers after attending a training seminar at California University of Pennsylvania. He stopped the marked cruiser and activated the emergency lights before removing the wheel that had fallen off a pickup truck. Ronald Kennedy, 44, of Connellsville, swerved the dump truck around the cruiser, hitting Burnfield, who was on the berm. The truck then continued on the berm of the highway, hitting a UPS tractor-trailer which had pulled to the berm after hitting the tire. Kennedy's truck rolled over, pinning him inside. Burnfield and Kennedy were pronounced dead at the scene by Washington County Coroner Tim Warco. His fellow police officers said Burnfield died like he lived, helping others. Township police Detective John Bruner said Burnfield's passion was to protect the public. "It was wonderful having known Nate and an absolute honor working along his side," Bruner said. "Nate was the complete public servant. Whether it was a burning building or bullets flying, Nate was there without hesitation." "The hedge of protection that surrounds our community now has a large void to fill," the detective added.
"The residents of South Strabane lost a fine officer," said Sgt. Brad McClay. "And this department lost a fine officer and great friend. We were lucky to have him." Burnfield was not only a police officer but also a lieutenant with Canton Township Volunteer Fire Company. He joined the fire department in 2002, two years before he joined South Strabane as a part-time police officer. He was promoted to a full-time officer in January 2007. "He wasn't even involved in the police service when he joined here," said Canton fire Chief Dave Gump. "He was working as a manager at the McDonald's in Trinity Point." Gump said Burnfield's older brother, Derrick, was a member. "I recall Derrick saying that his brother wanted to come join," Gump said. "And there he was." Burnfield jumped into the department with both feet. After his initial training, Burnfield was eager to sign up for almost any training.
"Every time there was a fire school, Nate would hand me the paper and say 'Here, sign this,'" Gump said. "He always wanted to be the first one out the door." Chuck LaBella said that Burnfield just couldn't sit still. They all chuckled as they remembered a recent trip to Philadelphia to pick up the department's new truck. Burnfield sat in the back of the van singing, "The wheels on the truck go round and round." In talking with the officers at South Strabane, Gump learned his lieutenant was like that in the police department. "He was always going 110 mph," Gump said. When he wasn't working or volunteering at the fire department, Burnfield enjoyed hunting. "He was proud as a peacock when he got that first deer," Gump said. Gump's sons, Dave Gump Jr. and Cody Gump, often would go hunting with Burnfield. Fellow firefighter Pete Grimm said Burnfield was looking forward to bear season. And he also loved watching University of Michigan football games even though his dad was a Penn State fan. "I never did get to rub it in when Michigan lost to Penn State," Dave Gump Jr. said. "I asked him once why he liked Michigan football since none of his family had gone there. He said he liked their uniforms when he was a kid and it just kind of stuck." Gump's wife, Diane, said Burnfield was like their third son. "He came over to our house one Christmas Eve with a gift made out to his second mom and dad," she said. Fellow firefighter Pat Reese said Burnfield was looking to purchase a house. Burnfield's death is especially hard for the firefighters. This is the second time in less than two years they lost one of their own in the line of duty. Canton firefighter Jeremy LaBella was killed Feb. 4, 2007, while fighting a fire while working for Washington Fire Department. "He did alot for us when Jeremy died," Diane Gump said. "Nate took it very hard." "Things were just starting to ease up for us," Gump said. The chief often would see Burnfield as he headed off to work. "I always told him to be careful," Gump said. "I told him that you don't know how people are going to act and you have to deal with them everyday." "We are all going to miss him," he added. "It's just not fair to take him like that." Gump reached into his pocket and showed his wife what he found that morning - a gold guardian angel. "Is it from Nate or Jeremy or both?" she said. "They are looking over us." Burnfield's friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Ave., Washington. A firefighters memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and a police memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. A funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Immaculate Conception Church, 135 W. Chestnut St., followed by a procession to Washington Cemetery. |
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WELL STILL WAITING : 11/6/2008
WERE IS THE TRUCKDRIVER BEING SEEN.HOW IS HE BEING REMEMBERED OR HONERED AT.
Awful : 11/6/2008
That's awful to talk about a truck driver who obviously was going too fast to control his vehicle. It's a shame he died but he took another life. I travel I70 every day and most of the truck drivers are careless and don't care about the other motorists on the road.
Floyd 34 : 11/6/2008
I can't believe how ignorant you are!! First of all the truck driver wasn't from Washington County, so I don't think we should have anything published in a Washington County paper, I am sure that they don't have anything about Nate in the Fayette County paper. Nate was doing a what he lived for, by saving the lige of some one else's. You really need to be considrate of him and his family at this time. I understand that the truck driver died also, and his family is also grieving, but what I have read is that he was speeding and driving out of control. That is why Nate is not with us today. So maybe you should think about other people feeling before you start running your mouth.
Silly Competition : 11/6/2008
Let's be adult here, folks. There is no need for a competition between those unfortunates who died in this tragedy. Yes, Officer Burnfield is getting more attention here. That is quite normal, since he is a local police officer whose life touched local people more than the out-of-town truck driver. Consequently, there is no reason to respond with attacks against the truck driver, as there has been no evidence proffered that he was driving improperly. This was a blind curve, and quite possibly was an unavoidable event. How about we all cool our jets a bit and acknowledge that there are two families suffering from this, and our prayers go to ALL of them.
Truck Driver : 11/6/2008
I can appreciate your respect for the acknowledgement of the truck driver, his family is hurting now as well,however the driver was not from this area. Nate was from this area, and served this area with honor, dignity, and respect, mainly in South Strabane and Canton Twp. He would be awakened in the middle of the night to respond to fires or other emergencies as a Firefighter, working many hours in South Strabane as a Police Officer, protecting the people who live and work in that community, attending many training sessions so he could excel in these areas to further help the communities. We, the local communities are showing our respect for our fallen Firefighter/Police Officer Nathan Burnfield as any community should, this is the least this communty should do for Nate Burnfield. The truck drivers family will surely have there own services and local remembrances and they will honor him in their own way, and we extend our condolences to his family.
Nate : 11/6/2008
Nate was a public servant of this community and should be honored in every way.
RIP Nate : 11/6/2008
Ignorant, Disrespectful, And an idiot
FLOYD : 11/6/2008
Why did the O-R even acknowledge someone like FLOYD 34? He is so ignorant (destitute of knowledge or education ) that he can not properly formulate a sentence. He uses periods at the end of both of his questions. Were, which ryhmes with fur, is not an interrogative prounoun used to start a question. Truckdriver should be two words. I have no idea how you "honer at" someone. That said, I think we should take this time to HONOR Officer Burnfield. How many more people may have been injured or killed if Officer Burnfield had not gave his life by removing dangerous debris from the road. FLOYD 34 should go back to grammar school. Maybe if he had any brains he would realize that the story is to honor a hero that gave his life to help others. When the O-R does a story on overloaded, speeding, out of control trucks on I-70 maybe they can "honer at" the "truckdriver"!
Silly Competition : 11/6/2008
I do agree with you, but this would have never started if people would just learn to keep there comments to theirselves. I feel bad for both families, they have both lost their loved ones. I know that GOD is with both families at this tragic thime.
My Prayers to both families : 11/6/2008
No matter who was at fault, two people lost their lives and that is a tragedy. I did not know either family but I will pray for everyone involved. My deepest sympathy goes out to both families.
May They Both Rest Rest In Peace : 11/6/2008
Lets get it together people. God bless both families in the tragic loss of there loved ones. Of course Officer Burnfield will be a stand out in this community as we have all suffered a great loss. Lets also take a moment and remember first he was a son, brother, grandson, nephew, and friend. This is a very painful time for this family and they deserve respect. Please let us all do that.
There Were 2 Killed : 11/6/2008
I too am in shock that one of th men killed in this accident is highly honored while the other is not hardly mentioned. He has a family and friends that hurt and feel the same way Nate's friends and family is feeling at this moment. Speed may have been a factor, but as i read in the paper this cop got out on a blind bend, Very unsafe to do. Blind bend, may have made it hard to see the cop, until too late. Let these men killed rest in peace, i am sure they both had good deeds they have performed for others, and belonged to organization that made them both outstanding. It would be nice to hear something about the other driver, as we have heard about Nate. I have been on that very stretch of road and one thing is for sure, all trucks on that road go well over the speed limit and makes me wonder where the cops are when it goes on constantly. My heart felt sympathy to both families, and let's get something done about the truckers who drive too fast.
Issue at hand : 11/6/2008
It seems as though a few individuals here have decided to mock each other's grammatical competence as opposed to keeping the point of this story in the forefront. It is the tragic loss of a young officer and a dump truck driver that is important here. No one really cares about whether someone constructed a sentence that is considered grammatically perfect. Who cares?? Why don't you devote your attention to what's important here? If you are that concerned about his use of the English language, then perhaps you are the pathetic one, my friend. God Bless the people who died in this tragedy and their families as well.
It hurts... : 11/6/2008
It hurts to know that my friend, Nate, lost his life. I know he lost it how he lived it, but it hurts. I'm so numb, and I can't stand knowing that I'll never see his smiling face again. I've talked to him on many occasions, and he was always smiling and laughing; there was never a frown on his face. I'll never forget him telling me about a blue Tacoma that outran him on Zediker Station. I miss my dear friend, and I wish so badly that I could have him back. Please pray for his family and friends. Also, pray for the family and friends of Mr. Kennedy. To those of you who had the blessing of knowing Nate, my prayers go out to you.
R.I.P.Nate Dog!! : 11/7/2008
Nate was sweet, funny and so easy going. He made me laugh at times that I didn't think I would ever make it through my day. He was loved by pretty much everyone that he met. I've known him since he was 17 yrs old... I'll never forget him, his silly songs, remarks and positive attitude towards life. To his family... such a loss and I'm sorry, may God Bless you... To his friends... I'll miss him too... Dawn
Why do the good people have to leave this earth? : 11/8/2008
Hello, my name is amy osburn and I am from fayette county,pa and I am a friend of the family of the truck driver ron kennedy, Ron was a loving father and my family and his family our very close. I feel awful for what has happen to these wonderful men. I am so confused about life, there are people who do bad things like murder and drugs and child molesters and there lives continue without pain or something traggic like this happening, but tuesday two men who were angels on this earth and would go above and beyond to help anyone was taken out this world. It just does not make sense to me at all. I know I am not suppose to ask questions about death, but I wish I had the answers so badly. A 44 year old man who had so much to live for and grandchildren who will never get a chance to know how wonderful grandfather they have and a 27 year old man who did not get the chance to have afamily because he thought of people others lives first before himself. I applaud his parents for raising a true hero in my eyes. Eventhough there son is gone and there hearts ache, they have so much to be proud of and I thank them from the bottom of my heart because that could of been myself if I was in the area or someone with a car load of children, but the police officer put his life on the line to protect all of us. Tell me that ain't a true hero....wow. My heart goes out to the police officer family and the all the officers and fire fighters who lost there best friend tuesday. I think everyone needs to think about how wonderful it is to have people to take care of us like this and never take that forgranted. My heart aches for the kennedy family and the police officers family.We lost two good men and I know they are angels now and I also believe GOD just needed two good man and he got them tuesday. God Bless our truck drivers and police officers and fireman, thank you for keeping us safe and putting your life before your own. There are not enough words to show my gratitude.
The truck driver : 11/24/2008
Mr. Floyd 34 -- were you there? Do you know for a fact beyond doubt that the truck driver was speeding? NO you don't and don't try and say you do -- the fact is that I know this "truck driver" as he is so coldly referred to. I met him when I was 12 years old and married him when I was just 17 years old -- we were married for 15 years and had three beautiful children who are missing their DADDY. Yes he was someone't daddy. He was my first love as I was his. We have memories that no one can ever take away from us. Though we divorced and both moved on --we remained friends. He had another relationship in PA where he had another daughter who without her daddy as well. How dare you take that from this family. Ron was a wonderful man who would do anything for anyone. He may not have had a badge but he was honorable. He did not strike that officer on purpose. What about if it was you? Where was the time to react -- all of a sudden there was a police car -- a person on the highway where you are going at a higher speed because of the kind of highway it was. There were no flares to warn you --- who is to say how you could react. Ron tried to miss the police vehicle and the officer was on the road -- who could possibly know that and Ron paid with his very life as well. Both of Ron's families are grieving terribly as with the officer's families. This was an accident -- he is not a villan and you cannot possibly say the things you said with merit at all. You were not there -- if you continue to blame an innocent man who I know meant no harm to anyone you are going to answer to the only Judge there is someday. I pray for my family that I can keep my children strong with their grief of losing their daddy -- my first love ---for his other family who are grieving for him, his siblings who lost their brother, and his mother who has lost her son. I pray for the officer's family that they may get through this as well with God's help. I also pray for the ignorant ones Mr. Floyd 34 who don't know any better but will answer to the only God there is for your cruelty. Did you not think that the "truck driver's" family would not stumble on this stupidity and ignorance? Well I can promise that his three oldest children haven't because I will keep it from them. They are handling enough. I feel sorry for you. It doesn't matter what county either one of them are from or what badges they hold -- they were both God's children and had families who love them and greatly miss them. Please respect the dead and stop blaming someone who did not do this on purpose and he paid for it with his life. His daughter will not have him to give them away. His two grand daughters will not have a chance to know him and our oldest daughter had just texted Ron to tell him the morning of his death that she is pregnant with his third grand child. Our children didn't get to see their children the last few years for reasons beyond any of our control, but Ron knew where our hearts were and our last visit together in May sealed it forever. He will live on through his children. His one and only son has his exact name to live on for him. I do feel so sorry for those people who are so ignorant that they can say something about a man they don't know and blame him when they don't know. There is only one Judge and you don't qualify but you will answer to him. Thank you.
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