Ware County firefighter charged with DUI manslaughter in crash that killed another firefighter

Bobby “Blue” Smith died in June after a fire truck overturned

Luke Zimmerman mugshot (Ware County Sheriff's Office)

WARE COUNTY, Ga. – A Ware County firefighter was charged with DUI manslaughter for a crash in June that killed another firefighter, according to a booking report.

Bobby “Blue” Smith died when the fire truck he was riding in overturned after the driver lost control, according to Georgia State Patrol (GSP).

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Luke Zimmerman was booked in the Ware County Jail on Oct. 27 and charged with DUI manslaughter in Smith’s death.

According to GSP, troopers responded at 12:40 p.m. on June 23 to Manor-Millwood Road near Manor Waresboro Road in Ware County for a single-vehicle deadly crash.

Ware County Fire Rescue firefighter Bobby "Blue" Smith was killed in a fire truck crash on Thursday. (WJXT)

The crash investigation determined that a firefighter was driving the county fire truck south on Manor-Millwood Road and the truck traveled off the roadway onto the west shoulder and lost control.

The truck then spun counterclockwise as it flipped across the roadway before hitting a tree and landing on its passenger side in the ditch.

Smith, who was the front-seat passenger, died at the scene.

It’s unclear why the fire truck lost control, and the Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is assisting GSP with the investigation into the crash.


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As a proud alumnus of Bethune-Cookman University, Kendra is a Jacksonville native, who loves all things lifestyle-related.

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