Two OK Firefighters Killed Friday In Tragic Goldsby Tanker Truck Crash

GOLDSBY, OK. (THECOUNT) — Two Goldsby firefighters were killed early Friday morning when their fire tanker truck rolled over while they were responding to a structure fire, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol confirmed. The names of the two fallen firefighters have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.

The fatal crash occurred at approximately 3 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, near East Redbud Road and Southeast 12th Avenue in Goldsby, Oklahoma.

According to OHP Lt. Mark Southall, the tanker was traveling east on Redbud Road to respond to a structure fire in the area when the driver went off the roadway and overcorrected, causing the vehicle to roll over. Two firefighters who were inside the tanker at the time of the crash were killed. It is unknown whether additional firefighters were inside the vehicle when the crash occurred.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash, and no other injuries were reported. Lt. Southall described it as “a complicated scene,” noting that OHP investigators were still gathering evidence at the scene.

Goldsby is a small community in McClain County, located approximately 20 miles south of Oklahoma City and just southwest of Norman. The town’s fire department serves a predominantly rural area, including the county roads east of town where Friday’s tragedy unfolded.

McClain County Deputy Cary Bryant said the county is rallying around the grieving community. “We are supporting the town of Goldsby in any way that we can,” Bryant said. “This is obviously a very close-knit community. It’s very devastating for those in the fire service.”

Firefighter line-of-duty deaths involving vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of fatalities in the fire service nationally. Rural departments face particular challenges navigating roads in the pre-dawn hours at emergency response speeds.

OHP is leading the crash investigation. It was not immediately clear whether additional units responded to and extinguished the structure fire that the tanker crew was en route to at the time of the crash.

The crash occurred near East Redbud Road and Southeast 12th Avenue in Goldsby. A Google Maps link to the approximate crash location can be found here: East Redbud Road & SE 12th Ave, Goldsby, OK (approximate).

The identities of the two firefighters killed are expected to be released by OHP once next of kin have been notified. This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.

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