Hundreds of firefighters, police officers and members of the community paid their last respects today to firefighter Gene Thomas.

The 51-year-old Thomas was an assistant chief with the Verona Fire Department. He died Saturday after being struck by a tractor trailer while on duty.

A full firefighter's funeral and processional was held in Jacksonville. Firefighters lined up in formation and saluted one last time as Thomas's casket, draped with an American flag, was loaded onto his company's fire truck.

His fellow brothers described Thomas as a leader and someone with a heart of a servant.

Thomas is the third firefighter killed on duty in Onslow County in just over a year. Two volunteers from Rhodestown were killed last March while en route to a fire.

Sheriff's deputy Steve Boehm was also killed. His funeral will be noon Wednesday at White Oak High School.

Monday's Story

Two white crosses adorned with flowers and two orange and yellow reflective vests sit on Highway 17 south just outside of Jacksonville where Verona assistant fire chief Gene Thomas, and school resource officer and Onslow County sheriff's deputy Steve Boehm were killed Saturday.

Father's Day cards from the children of both men reflect their love for two first responders who died while serving the county's citizens. Sheriff Ed Brown says after responding to an accident on Highway 17 south Saturday, deputy Boehm walked across the road to assist with another accident in the northbound lane. He says both deputy Boehm and fireman Thomas were hit and killed by a passing tractor trailer.

Smoke from an ongoing fire at Camp Lejeune, heavy fog, and no wind, left drivers with zero visibility Saturday.

Thomas will be laid to rest Tuesday after a full fireman's funeral and processional. Boehm's funeral will be held Wednesday at White Oak high school where he worked and graduated high school.

The State Highway Patrol says the driver of the tractor trailer 51 year-old Robert Lee Kornegay of Fayetteville, is charged with misdeamnor death by vehicle.

Funeral Arrangements

Funerals have now been set for two public servants killed in the line of duty this past weekend.

Onslow County Deputy Steve Boehm and Verona firefighter Gene Thomas died when they were hit by a tractor trailer on Highway 17 Saturday morning.

Thomas' funeral will be held at Jones Funeral Home Chapel In Jacksonville on Tuesday at 11a.m.

A memorial service for Deputy Boehm takes place on Wednesday at White Oak High School in Jacksonville at 3 p.m.

Saturday's Story
An Onslow County sheriff's deputy and a volunteer firefighter were killed while directing traffic early Saturday morning. The tractor trailer driver has now been charged.

An Onslow County sheriff's deputy and a Verona volunteer firefighter were killed Saturday morning at a traffic accident on Highway 17.

Heavy smoke from a fire burning on Camp Lejeune and fog had caused several accidents near Verona and authorities say visibility in the area was down to nearly zero at the time of the wreck.

View a photo of the conditions at the time of the accident below in the photo gallery

The sheriff's department says Deputy Steve Boehm and fireman Gene Thomas were killed by an oncoming tractor trailer.

Another officer, Deputy Bill Hall, was injured. He was taken to New Hanover Memorial Hospital and has since been released.

A new release says both deputies had their emergency blue lights activated when the accident happened.

Troopers have charged 51-year-old truck driver Robert Kornegay of Fayetteville with two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle and exceeding a safe speed. Highway Patrol Lt. Everett Clendenin said a magistrate released him Saturday on his own recognizance.

U.S. 17 was closed down for several hours after the accident because of the visibility problems.

Camp Lejeune says the fire began May 20th on Range R-6 in the Greater Sandy Run Area as a result of .50 caliber machine gun shooting. The base says the fire was reported to Onslow County Emergency Services that same day.