Trek for vintage fire engine kills 2, injures teen

By KATU.com Staff and News Sources Published: Dec 6, 2009 at 4:11 PM PST Last Updated: Dec 7, 2009 at 7:46 AM PST
Veteran firefighter Richard Streissguth died in a car accident over the weekend. »Play Video
Veteran firefighter Richard Streissguth died in a car accident on his way to doing what he loves.

VANCOUVER, Wash. - Two Clark County men have died, and a teen is critically injured, after a Saturday morning accident that sent their vehicle down a Montana embankment. The three men were on their way to pick up a vintage fire engine in Bozeman - to bring it back for a local engine collection.

One of the dead is veteran firefighter Richard Streissguth and the other is Streissguth's brother in law, Doug Jacobsen. Jacobsen was a business manager for Snap-on Tools. Both reportedly were killed on impact.

Streissguth's 13-year-old son Jacob suffered critical injuries. He is being treated at a Missoula hospital.

Their vehicle reportedly left the roadway and tumbled down an embankment about an hour outside of Bozeman. The accident was around 8 a.m. Saturday, when roadways throughout the Northwest were slick with ice and some faced blizzard conditions.

Clark County Fire District Public Information Officer Dawn Johnson reports that Streissguth is survived by his wife Jennifer, his 15-year-old daughter Mackenzie, his son Jacob and their mother Erin Rose. He had been serving Clark County's Fire District 6 since 1980. His father Dick Streissguth has been a firefighter since 1954, first as a volunteer then as fire chief from 1977 to 1994 and currently as board secretary. Streissguth's brother, Steve Streissguth, is a deputy chief with the Vancouver Fire Department.  

Doug Jacobsen, a business manager for Snap-on Tools, died in a car accident over the weekend Doug Jacobsen is survived by his wife Kay Streissguth-Jacobsen. 

Fire District 6 and the Local 1805 Professional Firefighters have appointed family liaisons to assist the family and communicate their needs to the District. Fire District 6 and the Local 1805 Professional Firefighters have assisted in sending immediate family members to Missoula to be with Jacob. The District has brought in chaplains to meet with family members and district personnel. 

This "is not only a loss to Fire District 6 but to the entire community," Johnson said. "...It is now our time to honor the lives of Rick Streissguth and Doug Jacobsen."

In lieu of flowers the families have established a Streissguth/Jacobsen Memorial fund. Donations can be made at any branch of People's Community Federal Credit Union.