Matthew Richard Will, 30, died from injuries caused after his
bulldozer overturned Monday, according to a CalFire press
release.
Hollister – A Hollister resident who worked for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a bulldozer accident while fighting the 50-acre Colorado Fire near Big Sur.
Matthew Richard Will, 30, died from injuries caused after his bulldozer overturned Monday, according to a CalFire press release.
After the accident, he was airlifted to San Jose Regional Medical Center, and he died at 8:55am Tuesday. A CalFire team has been assigned to investigate the cause of the accident.
“He was a great firefighter, one of our best people,” said Curt Itson, battalion chief of CalFire’s San Benito-Monterey Unit.
Will had worked as a fire equipment operator since May 2003 and recently graduated from CalFire’s academy in Ione, according to the press release. He was assigned to the Hollister Air Attack base at the Hollister Municipal Airport.
In remembrance, flags will fly at half mast at all CalFire facilities, according to the press release. Will’s immediate family was present at the time of his death, and he is survived by his wife, Diana Will, their 10-year-old son Trysten and 8-year-old daughter Elsie.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a statement Tuesday evening about Will’s death.
“It is with great sorrow and deep sadness that Maria and I mourn the passing of Matthew Will,” Schwarzenegger said. “We join all Californians in expressing our sincere gratitude to Matthew for his faithful and dedicated service in protecting the citizens of this great state.”
