DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — A procession was held Friday afternoon in honor of fallen Jacksonville firefighter and engineer Michael Freeland.
The 36-year-old, who served with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department for several years, died in the line of duty Thursday during a prolonged extrication at a crash site. Watch the procession in the video below:
STORY: 18-year-old seriously hurt in shooting at Jacksonville home
JFRD Chief Keith Powers said Freeland was working to free a woman from a crash involving a U-Haul truck and a light pole around 1 a.m. on Thursday. The woman was rescued, but when Freeland stepped out of the back of the U-Haul, he collapsed and later died.
It is unclear what led to his death, but JFRD received reports about a downed power line by the crash that may have been a factor. A medical examiner will determine the cause of his death.
JFRD was posted along the route as their fallen brother’s body was taken from the medical examiner’s office located at 2100 Jefferson Street, to the funeral home on Soutel Drive.
The community also came out to pay respects.
STORY: Employee dies from accident at Home Depot in Fleming Island, police say
The route began at 8th Street starting at Jefferson Street heading west, then turned north on Myrtle Avenue, then turned west on US 1 and then turned north on Soutel Drive.
The procession was originally scheduled for 11:30 a.m., but happened at 4 p.m. instead.
0 of 4
©2021 Cox Media Group
