At 1:40 a.m. Dec. 19, Prince George’s County Firefighters responded to a building fire in Upper Marlboro at the Safeway Shopping Center off Rt. 301.
Gordon Davis, a WJLA -7 News videographer, arrived on the scene shortly after and went about his job of filming the firefighters in action, as he has done for the ABC station for the past decade.
Davis, 51 of Thurmont, parked his live-truck at a gas station parking lot across Crain Highway, Rt. 301, from the fire scene.
He was struck by a car at 2:40 a.m. as he was crossing the southbound lanes of Rt. 301, returning to his vehicle.
The driver of the car stopped and attracted the attention of firefighters operating at the scene of the fire.
Firefighters and paramedics initiated immediate life support measures and transported the critically injured Davis to Southern Maryland Hospital, but his injuries were too severe for survival.
Davis was the only full-time overnight videographer for a network station in the metropolitan area and was recognized and well respected by area firefighters and police officers.
“Having known Gordon Davis over the past 11 years, he became well known and respected. He went about his job in a professional and unobtrusive manner, never wanting to interfere with operations,” said P.G. County Fire/EMS Press Information Officer Mark Brady.
“This is one reason, I feel, he parked his media vehicle a fair distance away from the fire scene. Being an overnight videographer, Gordon Davis was at most every “hot-spot” that occurred overnight and often captured the only professional video of a scene. On behalf of the entire Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Gordon Davis and his co-workers at WJLA News.”
Davis is survived by his wife and 15-year-old daughter.
See the WJLA article on this tragic accident here.