Orange County Firefighter Killed In Motorcycle Crash
Michael E. Priester was only 53 senescence mature when he died on the morning of February 21, 2009. He was on his way home on U. S. 17 North of Senescent Daytona Road in Volusia County when a pickup truck collided head - on with his motorcycle; he was wearing his helmet at the era of the crash.
His noteworthy career with Orange County Fire Reclamation had spanned partly 18 caducity, infancy on April 21, 1991. He’d been most recently assigned to the Special Operations Squad Unit at Fire Station 83. He will be sorely invisible by his individual firefighters and paramedics. He is survived by his wife. The cause of the crash was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol, and it was strong-willed that the pickup truck had swerved suddenly in to the stricken motorcyclist’s track. Residing in Deland, Priester was very active in the local firefighter’s labor union and was important by his colleagues for his lively sense of humor. He would loudly imitate “Curly” of the allegorical 1930s Fantasy Troupe “The Three Stooges, ” while salute loved ones or his many friends by having them pull his inventory finger straight out as if it were a living soiree aid. As a younger man, he would predispose friends by pursing his bushy eyebrows together racket a “Groucho Marx” monobrow.
He would dole out modest boys from the nook rides on the “Big Red Engine” while being unstinting with his life span. This fire truck with its hook n’ ladder was more than 60 feet long – a giant attraction to an awestruck boy.
He always loved motorcycles. A memorable “bike” was a GPZ that he handled with skillful aplomb. Another comrade described Mike as “kind - hearted, always a burst on his lips, who loved his work. At Tallulah Park, he once performed CPR to save the life of an elderly woman, aged 97. He hot other human beings, both senile and childlike.
