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Public Safety Updated October 15, 12:46 am

Buckholts firefighter and teacher dies in rollover crash responding to fire

Rick Joseph Fuentes, a 26-year-old volunteer firefighter and Lamar Middle School science teacher, died in a single-vehicle rollover crash Sunday night while responding to a vehicle and grass fire call. The fire truck left the roadway and rolled over near Farm to Market Road 437 in Holland.

Where
Holland, Milam County
When
Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026
Sources
Reported by 4 outlets

Counties: Milam

Taxes and money

None stated in sources.

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Rick Joseph FuentesBuckholts Volunteer Fire Department firefighter and Lamar Middle School science teacher and coach
  • Texas Department of Public SafetyInvestigating the crash
  • Temple ISDFuentes' employer
  • Buckholts Volunteer Fire DepartmentFuentes' employer

The facts

  • Rick Joseph Fuentes, 26, died in a single-vehicle rollover crash Sunday night.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Fuentes was a Buckholts Volunteer Fire Department firefighter and Lamar Middle School science teacher.1 4 Stated by 2 sources
  • The fire truck left the roadway near the 7300 block of Farm to Market Road 437 and rolled over.1
  • Fuentes was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Greg Hoelscher.1
  • The crash occurred while Fuentes was responding to a vehicle and grass fire in the 13000 block of Wood Road.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Buckholts Volunteer Fire Department announced Fuentes' death in a social media post on Oct. 11.2

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Temple ISD Fuentes was a beloved member of Lamar Middle School family who made a positive impact on students and adults.1 4
  • Jaci Hartfiel, Fuentes' colleague Fuentes loved Aggie sports, God, and people; students knew he loved them even when they struggled.4
  • Emma Bedford, Fuentes' cousin Fuentes was destined for greatness and was an example of carrying a peaceful and positive spirit through adversity.4

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

  • Central Texas community mourning tragic loss of beloved teacher, volunteer firefighter

    KWTX

  • Volunteer firefighter in Milam County dies in crash responding to call

    FOX 7 Austin

  • Texas firefighter dies in rollover crash while responding to fire, DPS says

    KXAN Austin

  • Central Texas mourns Buckholts volunteer firefighter and Lamar Middle School teacher Rick Fuentes

    KXXV

  • ‘Firm in his faith’: Central Texas community remembers firefighter and teacher killed in rollover crash

    KWTX

Sources

Outlets: 4 not rated Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. Central Texas community mourning tragic loss of beloved teacher, volunteer firefighter KWTX Not rated, October 11, 2026
  2. Volunteer firefighter in Milam County dies in crash responding to call FOX 7 Austin Not rated, October 12, 2026
  3. Texas firefighter dies in rollover crash while responding to fire, DPS says KXAN Austin Not rated, October 12, 2026
  4. Central Texas mourns Buckholts volunteer firefighter and Lamar Middle School teacher Rick Fuentes KXXV Not rated, October 12, 2026

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

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