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Off Duty Firefighter Killed In I-10 Wreck
December 2, 2012
One person was killed in a wreck Saturday night on I-10 near Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 21-year old Andrew Joseph Keeler of Pensacola was westbound on I-10 at a high rate of speed in his 2001 Chevrolet Camaro. Keeler braked as another vehicle changed lanes in front of him, lost control and overturned and struck several trees. Keeler, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.
He was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital were he was pronounced deceased following the 7:35 p.m. crash.
Keeler was a career firefighter for Pace Fire Rescue.
Comments
24 Responses to “Off Duty Firefighter Killed In I-10 Wreck”
In death let this also be another lesson. We would not, any of us, be writing anything – most likely – if he had worn his seatbelt. No one, not me not you, no one again is perfect and it’s not a hateful criticism of a great man (my brother worked with him as a FF I didn’t know him but my bro, a fire captain, spoke VERY highly of him) but the very simple act of a seatbelt likely resulted in him not being ejected which ejection in turn increases by 25 times the chance of death – and so here we are. He could have forgot to put it on, but I’d bet even so if he could tell us now he’d say please don’t forget to wear it.
God bless the family and friends of the man. I’ll keep you all in my prayers.
So sad, our thoughts and prayer are with you and your family
I will always have a warm place in my heart for him,Sarah and him were neighbors when he was a little boy and played all the time. He is in Gods hands now.
I will pray for his family and friends.
John Tuttle
You will be miss aj you was always a sweet person I pray every night for the family and friends….
So very sorry your family has to go through this. He has always been special to the Pena’s and will be greatly missed. Prayers and love for your family. <3
So sad for the Keeler Family..we’ve known AJ and his family for many years and this senseless tragedy has us all heartbroken….Hoping you find comfort in the days ahead knowing your son was a good man.
Aj always wore his seatbelt he even made me wear one everytime I rode with him in his car or truck, maybe this time he forgot to put it on, or was to tired to notice the boy worked all the time, please just miss him don’t use this horrible accident to.criticize and wonderful young man….
It is sad that this “hero” lost his life this way, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and co-workers.
I am also sorry to those that think the issue of wearing seat belts has no place in this news story.
Let’s face it, when something “bad” happens and is posted on a public forum, people will talk and wonder what could have happened to make things different. Case in point, a firefighter who has probably seen enough deaths that could have been prevented by wearing a seatbelt, dying in an auto accident and not wearing a seat belt.
Amazingly, the most vocal people “I” know about not wearing seat belts are also NASCAR fans and cannot give me a good explanation why a NASCAR driver is all buckled in, but it’s OK for “Joe average driver” to drive without one.
Again, sorry for the loss of a loved one.
I don’t know the young man or his family,but I have a family and children my heart goes out to his family and friends I can imagine how their feeling.I put myself in their shoes and just the thought of losing one of them tears me up inside.I will keep you all in my prayers.Look to the lord he will make everything alright.God bless you all.
Any talk about seat belts is a good thing because it brings awareness to an important issue. The sad fact that is over looked most of the time is the fact that SPEED KILLS. Is getting there a few minutes earlier worth it? I think not. Just saying. :-/
RIP. I hope your family will be alright!
Praying that God comforts the hurting hearts of friends, family and all that knew this selfless young man.
This is so sad to see a fellow brother go and at such a young age… We crawl/walk into a burning house to find/meet the beast not knowing if the beast will let you make it out alive. I’m sure a crash was the last thing on his mind.. My thoughts and prayers go out to both families of this young man.
I happened to have driven passed the scene of the accident shortly after FHP arrived and the car was belly up. I knew it couldn’t have ended any other way. My thoughts are with his family. No one should ever lose a loved one in such a tragedy, or any other for that matter.
A.J. & I were very close. you’re gone, but you WON’T be forgotten. I love you Andrew Joseph Keeler<3
REGARDING:
“At this point his seatbelt DOESN’T MATTER!!!”
True, too late now.
My condolences to those who loved him and lost him.
David for consolation
AJ wore his seatbelt religiously. That was one thing his dad preached. It doesn’t matter if he was wearing it or not. He’s gone. That’s all that matters now. His family and friends need prayers. This is a very hard time for his blood family as well as his brothers and sisters in uniform. I married in to a firefighter family and am now a part of this close nit group. Just pray for them. At this point his seatbelt DOESNT MATTER!!!
@JustMe what a stupid comment “and who cares that he was wearing a seatbelt or not”. No one knows for sure if it would have saved him or not but the truth is seatbelts save lives and I’m sure willing to bet his parents care. And I don’t believe FLSTCI was attacking him either he was just stating a fact.
Prayers to the Keeler family.
i think that flstci was not attacking the young man, he was stating that he/or she was surprised after seeing all the wrecks and lost lifes, he must have seen, he would have been wearing one. it may OR may not have saved his life! it is a terrible tragedy that it is another lost young life, and i am sure he will be terribly missed!
Sad, and who cares that he was wearing a seatbelt or not, this young man is gone! Should feel real proud of yourself for bringing that point up FLSTCI. God bless this family and the FD.
Prayers to the Keeler family and the Pace Fire family, AJ was a outstanding young man and will be missed.
A Firefighter not wearing a seat belt, after all the injuries I am sure they have seen from not wearing seat belts, Prayers to the family.