Orange County Firefighter Killed In Motorcycle Crash
Michael E. Priester was only 53 second childhood old when he died on the morning of February 21, 2009. He was on his way home on U. S. 17 North of Mature Daytona Road in Volusia County when a pickup truck collided head - on with his motorcycle; he was wearing his helmet at the tour of the crash.
His noteworthy vocation with Orange County Fire Recovery had spanned partly 18 caducity, day one on April 21, 1991. He’d been most recently assigned to the Special Operations Squad Unit at Fire Station 83. He will be sorely misplaced by his fellow firefighters and paramedics. He is survived by his wife. The cause of the crash was investigated by the Florida Highway Policing, and it was dogged that the pickup truck had swerved suddenly in to the stricken motorcyclist’s track. Residing in Deland, Priester was very active in the local firefighter’s labor union and was noted by his colleagues for his lively sense of humor. He would loudly imitate “Curly” of the mythical 1930s Fantasy Troupe “The Three Stooges, ” while address loved ones or his many friends by having them pull his catalogue finger straight out as if it were a conscious bee good. As a younger man, he would get friends by pursing his bushy eyebrows together concernment a “Groucho Marx” monobrow.
He would fork over small boys from the whistle stop rides on the “Big Red Engine” while being open-handed with his time. This fire truck with its hook n’ ladder was more than 60 feet long – a giant attraction to an awestruck boy.
He always loved motorcycles. A memorable “bike” was a GPZ that he handled with skillful aplomb. Another confrere described Mike as “kind - hearted, always a simper on his lips, who loved his work. At Tallulah Field, he once performed CPR to save the life of an elderly woman, aged 97. He appreciated other human beings, both mature and girllike.
