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Berks County commissioners honor two Walnutown firefighters killed in roadside crash
Summary
Commissioner Christian Linebach opened the April 9 meeting by naming two Walnutown Fire Company officers—Fire Chief Robert Schick Jr. and Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Buck—who were killed while searching for a missing woman; Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags lowered to half‑staff and the interment is private, officials said.
Berks County Commissioner Christian Linebach opened the April 9 board meeting by announcing the deaths of two Walnutown Fire Company officers who were killed while searching for a missing older woman. Linebach identified them as Fire Chief Robert Schick Jr. and Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Buck and asked the room to observe a moment of silence for the families.
Linebach said Gov. Josh Shapiro had asked that flags be lowered to half‑staff in acknowledgement of the loss. He told the commissioners that, according to local news reporting, the interment will be private and asked residents to keep the families in their prayers. "Both from Walnutown Fire Company, the fire chief, and the deputy fire chief, Robert Schick junior, on the left, and Jeffrey Buck," Linebach said. "Just totally unnecessary."
Linebach said the officers "were searching, I believe, for a older woman, that was missing and, in a UTV on the side of the road and, were hit and, ultimately, both of them passed away," and he framed the crash as part of broader concerns about people driving under the influence. The board did not announce any formal action at the meeting beyond the recognition.
The meeting proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance and routine business; county staff directed residents seeking details about memorials to local media and county communications, and Linebach noted public information on viewing options is available online, while the interment remains private.
