FOUR OAKS – A volunteer firefighter was seriously injured after being ejected from his truck in a single vehicle accident in Johnston County. The accident was reported at 9:24am Monday on Stone Creek Road at Oak Forest Road south of Four Oaks.
Cecil Dale Thornton, 18, was responding to a first responder medical call with the Blackman’s Crossroads Fire Department when he ran off the roadway and overturned. Thornton was ejected from his truck.
According to the Highway Patrol, Thornton was paralyzed from the waist down. He was rushed to the trauma center at WakeMed. He underwent surgery today.
Thornton is a senior at South Johnston High School.
Because of COVID-19, friends have been unable to visit him in the hospital. Many of his friends plan to gather tonight at 7PM next to the the Blackman’s Crossroads Fire Department on Highway 96 South to show their support for him and fellow firefighters during this difficult time.
When reached by telephone this afternoon, Blackman’s Crossroads Fire Chief Russ McLamb declined to comment.
Several churches and South Johnston faculty posted about the tragedy on social media today asking for prayers for the teen and his family.
