Two Maxwell Volunteer Firefighters die in tragic vehicle collision

Sierra Martin | Managing Editor

On Monday, June 20, 2022, two brothers and members of the Maxwell Community Volunteer Fire Department were killed in a major auto collision. 21-year-old Firefighter Hunter Coco and 25-year-old Assistant Chief Jonathon Coco died in a traffic accident while returning from a wildfire on Texas Highway 20 outside Lockhart.

According to the City of Lockhart, the Lockhart Police Department (LPD) and Fire Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Park Road/FM 20 and San Jacinto St. involving a fire truck. Preliminary reports show that around 1:45 p.m. a woman driving southbound on San Jacinto Street was struck by a Maxwell Fire Department brush truck as she turned into State Park Road. 

The brush truck rolled over, resulting in the deaths of the two firefighters occupying the vehicle. The woman in the other car sustained minor injuries. The area was shut down to traffic for the duration of the investigation.

Jonathon was a member of the Maxwell Community Volunteer Fire Department since 2016 and his younger brother, Hunter, for just over one year. Jonathon Coco was also an Animal Control Officer for the Buda Police Department.  

“Jonathon, or ‘Coco’ as he was fondly known, was an integral part of the department for the past four years, serving beyond his role as Animal Control Officer to a support person for Information Technology and vehicle operations.  Jonathon and his brother Hunter gave their lives in service yesterday as members of the Maxwell Volunteer Fire Department,” the Buda Police Department said in a Facebook Post.

The Texas Department of Public Safety assisted LPD in examining the cause of the crash. LPD has filed a summons, similar to a citation, for failing to yield right-of-way for the woman.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Maxwell Community Volunteer Fire Department for the loss of two of their own,” LPD said in a Facebook post.