Derek Walton, a Columbus firefighter, has been identified as the man killed in a motorcycle crash Tuesday evening near downtown Columbus.

Walton was operating a Suzuki motorcycle when the wreck occurred before 10 p.m. at the intersection of E Long St. and N 11th St., Columbus, OH, the Columbus Division of Police said.

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Assistant Chief James Cannell with the Columbus Division of Fire released the following statement:

“One of the things that stands out to me about Derek is that he was so excited about becoming a paramedic, he started his training on his own time at Grant Hospital instead of waiting for the next Columbus Fire class. He will be greatly missed.” source

Investigators said Walton was taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead.