Peter Pulkkinen, a 95-year-old veteran, was fatally injured in a car accident on his way to meet friends for an early morning gathering.
95-year-old Peter Pulkkinen, a revered veteran of the United States Air Force, succumbed to injuries sustained in a heart-wrenching car accident on his way to meet his friends for an early morning coffee gathering. The incident, which unfolded at approximately 5:46 a.m. on Saturday, involved a collision between Pulkkinen's car and a Myrtle Beach Fire Department (MBFD) vehicle.
Tragically, despite the efforts of MBFD personnel who rendered immediate aid, Pulkkinen succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a local hospital. The Horry County Coroner's Office confirmed his passing in an official statement.
Beloved Veteran Perishes in Tragic Collision with Fire Department Vehicle
"The two Myrtle Beach Fire Department employees involved in the accident are physically unharmed," MBFD reported in a statement posted on Facebook. "South Carolina Highway Patrol is leading the investigation."
Avis, Pulkkinen's niece, expressed her profound grief, stating that her uncle was on his way to McDonald's to join his friends for their customary coffee break. It was a routine they had cherished together.
Beloved Veteran Perishes in Tragic Collision with Fire Department Vehicle
"He was an excellent driver, and we had ridden with him," Avis stated. "When we visited with him, he insisted on driving. He was always so cautious, so careful, looking both ways."
Pulkkinen, who was born in 1929 and grew up on a farm in Maine, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1948 and served with distinction for two decades. After his honorable discharge from the military, he transitioned to the private sector.
Beloved Veteran Perishes in Tragic Collision with Fire Department Vehicle
"He loved to take walks, read biographies and history books, take trips to visit friends in Florida, and enjoyed driving through the Kentucky countryside," Pulkkinen's obituary, which was posted on Legacy.com, detailed. "His favorite weekly outing was a meal at the Golden Corral."
Myrtle Beach Fire Department personnel expressed their heartfelt condolences to Pulkkinen's family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic event.
Beloved Veteran Perishes in Tragic Collision with Fire Department Vehicle
"Our hearts go out to everyone involved," the department stated.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Myrtle Beach Fire Department for further comment, but no immediate response was received.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is diligently investigating the circumstances surrounding this fatal accident.
