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In the Line of Duty
John Derek Gupton, Spring Hope, NC
9/16/2014
Name: John Derek Gupton Rank: Firefighter Age: 24 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: 5+ Date of Incident: 09/16/2014 Time of Incident: 1705hrs Date of Death: 09/16/2014 Fire Department: Justice Rural Volunteer Fire Department Address: 4113 N. Carolina Highway 581, Spring Hope, NC 27882 Fire Department Chief: Kelly Harris Incident Description: While en route to a fire alarm, Firefighter Gupton lost control of the 2,500 gallon fire tanker he was operating when the apparatus left the roadway to the right, hit a ditch culvert and overturned. Gupton passed away from injuries sustained in the accident. An additional firefighter who was a passenger in the apparatus was treated for injuries and released from a local hospital.