Leicester – A tragic accident involving a fire truck took the life of a teacher on Thursday, April 15, near Erwin High School. Eblen Intermediate School music teacher Jason Minnix passed away after being involved in a car accident Thursday afternoon in the vicinity of the school.
“Buncombe County Schools (BCS) and Eblen Intermediate School extend their sincerest condolences to the family of Jason Minnix, a beloved member of our school community. He will truly be missed,” said Buncombe County School Communication Director Stacia Harris in a press release.
The fire truck involved in the accident belongs to West Buncombe Fire Department, who said the accident happened at “approximately 3:30 pm today while responding to a possible structure fire at Erwin High School. West Buncombe Fire Department’s ladder truck was involved in a collision with a single car at the intersection of Lees Creek Rd and the entrance to Eblen. Firefighters immediately rendered emergency care to the driver of the other vehicle. The subject was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries,” said West Buncombe Fire Chief Dennis Fagnant. Minnix later passed away at Mission Hospital.
“It causes great sadness to learn the loss of life of the driver from the accident. Our firefighters take pride in serving our community and helping those in need,” said Fagnant. “To be part of such a tragic event deeply affects all of our firefighters and our sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and co-workers of the driver. We join our community in mourning the loss and offer prayers of healing for all.”
According to the BCS’s release, Minnix taught music at Eblen for three years. “He will be remembered as a compassionate and creative teacher who cared deeply for his students. He understood the power of music and the arts and hoped to inspire his students to find their unique voices.”
“Jason Minnix was a kind and gentle soul,” said Eblen Principal Jeremy Stowe. “He was always eager and willing to help out around the school. Mr. Minnix had a love for music and was very talented. From this combination, he created many imaginative and interesting lessons for his students.” The family asks for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. The school will plan a memorial for Minnix at an appropriate time.
There were no injuries to firefighters and the collision is under investigation by the NC State Highway Patrol. The fire which the department was responding to was a small boiler backfire at the school.