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Two brothers died in a crash near Lockhart on their way back from fighting wildfires
Two brothers, who were both members of the Maxwell Community Volunteer Fire Department (MCVFD), died on their way back from fighting a wildfire in Lockhart on Monday afternoon, June 20.
Around 2 p.m., Assistant Fire Chief Jonathon Coco, 25, and firefighter Hunter Coco, 20, were driving a brush truck back to the firehouse when their vehicle rolled over on Hwy. 20 near San Jacinto Boulevard in Lockhart.
MCVFD spokesperson Samantha Lucas says a driver failed to yield at a right-of-way and the brush truck rolled when Jonathon tried to avoid hitting the vehicle.
“It was a very large truck with a lot of water in it and those trucks don’t stop on a dime,” Lucas says. “To avoid hitting her and causing her injury, I’m assuming because that’s just how he is and how we are as firefighters, he swerved to avoid her and [their] truck rolled over in the ditch and ejected both of them.”
Jonathon was with the fire department for five years and was key in recruiting members to join the fire department, Lucas says. He was also an animal control officer in Buda.
Jonothon Coco during Swiftwater Rescue training.
Photo Courtesy of Samantha Lucas“He literally had friends everywhere he went and everybody knew him,” Lucas says of Jonathon. “He was very down to earth and goofy.”
Hunter was supposed to get married this week, Lucas says. He leaves behind a young child.
“He was always there when you needed him. He was the type of person that was quiet until he wasn’t,” Lucas adds. “I could have seen him being a career firefighter.”
Hunter Coco, who was a member of the Maxwell Community Volunteer Fire Department, died with his brother on way back from fighting a wildfire in Lockhart on Monday afternoon, June 20.
Photo Courtesy of Samantha LucasDonations to support the families of the two brothers can be sent to Maxwell Community Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 216, Maxwell, TX 78656-0216.