OWASSO, Okla. — A Tulsa firefighter died after a multi-car crash at 116th and Garnett in Owasso on Sept. 30, officials announced.
The Tulsa Fire Department identified the victim as Lieutenant Brian Bizzell.
"Lieutenant Bizzell faithfully served the Tulsa community since joining the department on August 17, 1998. Assigned most recently to Station 31, he dedicated more than 27 years to protecting lives and serving others with courage, professionalism, and compassion.
He was a respected leader, a trusted colleague, and a beloved member of our fire family. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters during this difficult time.”
The crash happened just after 9 a.m., when a caller reported an explosion with cars on fire at the intersection, Owasso police said.
WATCH: Tulsa firefighter dies in fiery Owasso crash
Three other people were hospitalized with serious injuries, one critically.
Police say surveillance video showed it all began with cars stopped at a red light.
"All the cars started stacking up for that red light, and that pickup truck you see behind me came through at a high rate of speed, crashed into the back of them, which sent a chain reaction crash, and fuel spilled, and it just turned into a big fireball at that point," said OPD Lt. Nick Boatman told media at the crash scene.
The driver was taken to the hospital in serious condition, Lt. Boatman said.
"We're going to do all the toxicology (tests)," the lieutenant said. "We're going to take blood, we're going to do all of that just to see the mindset or what was going on prior to this collision. We're going to backtrack (and) see where this person was all day, see if there was a crisis going on in their life. We don't know at this point, but we just don't know what led to all this."
The crash happened just steps from Discovery Church and during a women's bible study, its pastor told 2 News.
"There were some people that were actually involved in the accident just sitting in our parking lot, so our staff and our women went and prayed with them," Pastor Scott French said. "One of the women that was in one of the cars is a friend of some of the ladies in our church."
"I don't know, it was just really sad for us to see because you would never think that would happen in this intersection," Rocio Mata of Don Julio Mexican Grill said.
The restaurant's staff said they've submitted security camera footage to help in the investigation, while Owasso police also ask for driver dash cam from anyone who was present during the crash.
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