Augusta firefighter dies after off-duty Columbia Co. chase
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Augusta Fire Department is releasing a statement after the death of a firefighter following an off-duty chase Thursday night.
“The Augusta Fire Department is heartbroken to confirm the loss of one of our firefighters, Firefighter Damien Taitague. Firefighter Taitague faithfully served with the Augusta Fire Department since January 8, 2022,” Augusta Fire said in the statement.
According to the incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, around 9:20 p.m., a deputy noticed a Ford F150 turning from Columbia Road onto Lewiston Road without its lights on. The report states the driver failed to maintain lanes.
Officials say deputies stopped the truck when the driver continued south on Lewiston.
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While continuing to change between the lanes, the truck eventually turned onto William Few Parkway, driving over the center median, the report states.
The truck stopped near the rear entrance of Kroger, where deputies gave the driver demands to exit the vehicle.
Deputies then approached the driver’s side of the truck and determined the driver had shot himself. According to the report, EMS transported the driver to Doctors Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Chief Antonio Burden shared, “We mourn the loss of a dedicated public servant. Our department is grieving, and we ask the community to keep us in their thoughts.”
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