Wilmington firefighter killed in motorcycle accident in Braidwood

An accident claimed the life of a Wilmington Fire Protection District firefighter over the weekend.

The incident happened in Braidwood shortly before 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, when firefighter paramedic David Pollack was involved in a motor vehicle accident along Route 129 while off duty.

According to a Go Fund Me posted by friends and family, Pollack was traveling on his motorcycle in the 34000 block of Route 129/Washington Street when he struck a tire that was sitting in the roadway and was thrown from the motorcycle.

Pollack sustained unsurvivable injuries as a result of the accident.

According to a release by the WFPD, Pollack became a member of the Fire District in January of 2018 as a Firefighter Paramedic and was currently assigned as a Shift Leader at Station 2. He was also a member of the MABAS Division 15 Technical Rescue Team and a part-time member with the Coal City Fire Protection District.

“David will be an organ and tissue donor where, as he did in life through his profession, will continue to save many lives,” WFPD Deputy Chief Todd Friddle wrote on the district’s Facebook page. “Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with David, his wife Julissa, David’s parents and family during this very difficult time.”

The Go Fund Me will assist Pollack’s family with hospital bills and funeral costs.

“Dave was initially cared for by Braidwood fire department and was then flown by superior helicopter to Advocate Christ hospital,” the post noted. “Due to the massive amount of injuries Dave sustained to his neurological system the doctors stated that he will never regain consciousness. Saving lives, and helping anyone he could was his absolute passion. And even after his accident he is able to save between 4 to 6 more lives. Dave is a dedicated firefighter paramedic with a love for teaching fire and ems While working at Wilmington fire protection district and Coal City Fire protection district. The true number of people that know him is legendary. The amount of stories that people have about Dave are just as legendary.”

The Go Fund Me can be found here or by going to www.gofundme.com and searching “David Pollack.”