The call came in the dead of night, the kind that volunteer firefighters answer without hesitation. Around 3 a.m. on March 20, a tanker truck from the Goldsby Fire Department was racing toward a structure fire in McClain County when everything went wrong. Within moments, a routine emergency response turned into a devastating loss that would shake the entire town of Goldsby.
Authorities say the crash happened near East Redbud Road and Southeast 12th Avenue. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the tanker veered off the roadway. Investigators believe the driver tried to correct the course, but the truck rolled over and slammed into a tree. The impact was severe, leaving no chance for survival.
The men inside that truck were later identified as Bryan Jenkins, 64, and Todd Pendleton, 62. Both were volunteer firefighters, the kind of men who stepped up for their community without expecting anything in return. Officials confirmed they died at the scene. No other vehicles were involved, and no one else was injured.
For the people of Goldsby, the loss hit hard and fast. These were not just firefighters. They were neighbors, friends, and familiar faces in a tight-knit town. In a statement, local officials described the tragedy as “devastating,” urging residents to keep the families and fellow first responders in their thoughts.
Jenkins had spent 35 years serving with the department. That kind of commitment speaks for itself. He had seen decades of calls, emergencies, and long nights, always showing up when needed. Pendleton, with 12 years of service, carried the same spirit. Together, they represented experience, dedication, and a deep sense of duty.
Volunteer firefighters often leave their homes in the middle of the night, balancing everyday life with the responsibility to protect others. That early morning run was no different. They were doing exactly what they had done countless times before—answering a call for help. This time, they never made it to the scene.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the crash is still under investigation. For now, the focus in Goldsby remains on grief, remembrance, and support for the families left behind. In a small town, losses like this are never distant. They are personal, and they linger.
