Yesterday, March 18th, at 12:30 pm, the Louisburg Police Department, along with Louisburg Fire, EMS personnel, and the Miami County Sheriff's Office, responded to a report of a vehicle that had driven into a building at the 900 Blk of W Amity St in Louisburg. Upon arrival, first responders discovered that a male subject driving a pickup truck W/B on K68, had driven his truck through the building in question, striking two (2) individuals in the process. The individuals that were struck were later identified as Drexel Firefighter Anthony Juarez and his wife Devin.
Both Anthony and Devin were transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center for emergency medical care. Devin was treated at OPRMC and by all accounts will recover from her injuries.
However, it is with heavy-hearts, that we inform the Drexel community that at approximately 9:00 pm last night, Anthony succumbed to his many injuries. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife Devin, and loving family members.
Anthony Juarez spent the last nine (9) years honorably serving as a dedicated member of the Drexel Fire Department. Anthony was not only beloved by his fire department teammates, but he was also a beloved member of the Drexel community. Anthony and his band, “68 Overpass”, were frequent performers at our annual Pumpkin Fest, as well as other local venues.
Please keep the Juarez family in your prayers as they attempt to navigate this difficult circumstance in which they find themselves. In order to allow the family to grieve, we ask that you respect their privacy at this time.
I also ask that you keep the Drexel Fire Department members in your prayers, as they too are grieving this morning. We also pray for the first responders who handled the call in Louisburg, and for the OPRMC medical team that worked so valiantly to save Anthony’s life.
Fire Chief Booker and I would like to thank Undersheriff Matt Kelly and the Miami County Sheriff’s Office for providing and coordinating Peer Support for our firefighters.
The Drexel Fire Department will post memorial & funeral information on their page as soon as those details are made available to us.
-Chief Downey
Courtesy Drexel Fire Department
