Pepper Pike, OH (July 20, 2026) – A firefighter died after a collision involving three vehicles early on Saturday, July 18, on Fairmount Boulevard near Brainard Road. Emergency units arrived at approximately 2:50 a.m.
A man and a woman were found between two vehicles with serious injuries. The man, identified as 29-year-old Cameron Duvall of Northfield, lost his life at the scene. The woman was taken to a hospital and listed as stable.
The firefighter and the woman had arrived to assist a driver whose car had become disabled due to a flat tire.
The pair parked ahead of the disabled car and were helping with the flat tire when another vehicle struck them and the stopped vehicle. The police identified that driver as 26-year-old Joseph Simmons of Geneva. The circumstances surrounding the accident remain under active review.
We offer heartfelt condolences to Duvall’s family and friends, and wish the injured woman a full recovery.
Why Flat-Tire Assistance Can Become Dangerous
A disabled car can place occupants and helpers close to moving traffic. Darkness may make people standing beside a vehicle harder to see, especially along roads without bright lighting.
Opening a trunk or examining a tire can also require someone to stand near the travel lane. Passing drivers may have little time to recognize the hazard and move over safely.
Hazard lights can improve visibility, but they may not fully protect people outside a car. Remaining behind a barrier or well away from traffic may reduce exposure when available. Drivers approaching a stopped vehicle should slow down, watch for people nearby, and allow as much space as possible.
