A crash that happened as an Exton couple who served as West Whiteland volunteer firefighters were responding to an emergency call claimed the life of one of them and sent the other to the hospital in critical condition, writes Briana Smith for 6ABC.

The accident happened on North Pottstown Pike in Uwchlan Township on Friday. Firefighters Colin Reedy and Emily Gindele of West Whiteland Fire Company were responding to a call during a heavy downpour when their vehicle struck a tree on the side of the road.

Reedy died at the scene. He was 25. Gindele, his girlfriend, was rushed to hospital.

“Colin was light and he was energy and he was just everything, and we had so much hopes and dreams for him,” said his mother Tracy Reedy.

“Everybody loved Colin,” added his father, Brian Reedy.

Reedy was adopted from Ukraine by his family when he was a baby. His parents had dreams of seeing him build a successful career and marry his girlfriend of five years.

“It hits home for everyone, not just here, specially the community,” said West Whiteland Fire Chief Kevin Miller.

Read more about West Whiteland Fire Company’s Colin Reedy and Emily Gindele at 6ABC.