The village of Mayville have confirmed that a 17-year-old probationary fireman has been fired following an early morning accident last Thursday.
The village held a special meeting Tuesday, July 30 to discuss the July 25 accident, which saw the 17-year-old, later identified as village fire chief Terry Blackmer’s son, take a 2012 Chevy Silverado from the fire hall without permission. Shortly after it was taken, the vehicle was involved in an accident near Leix and Saginaw roads in Tuscola County’s Fremont Township, with the truck leaving the roadway, striking a tree and coming to rest in a ditch.
During Tuesday’s special meeting, several members of the Command Staff of the Fire Department and the 17-year-old were interviewed, with it found that Chief Blackmer and the rest of the department’s command staff bore no responsibility for the incident and acted accordingly.
They also confirmed the chief’s termination of the probationary fireman, and voted to issue a statement to the Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office and Prosecutor’s Office to issue charges as seen fit, with assurance of full cooperation by the village in the investigation.
In a statement regarding Tuesday’s meeting, the village noted that all investigations into the incident are being handled by the sheriff’s office, not the village. They also noted that an insurance claim has been initiated on the damaged vehicle, which had been outfitted as a grass truck, with the hope being to repair and return the vehicle to service soon.
