| Name | Charles France |
| Agency | Hoopeston Volunteer Fire Department |
| Rank | Captain |
| Type of Firefighter | Volunteer |
| Age Range | 36 to 40 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 2/5/1926 |
| Date of Death | 10/10/1966 |
| Cause of Death | Vehicle collision , Thrown from vehicle |
| Nature of Death | Trauma |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Responding to/returning from incident |
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Hoopeston |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 10/10/1966 23:55 |
| Incident Location | Street/Road |
| Incident Attribute | Traffic accidents |
On October 10, 1966, Rescue Captain Charles Edwin France of the Hoopeston Volunteer Fire Department died in the line of duty following a traffic accident that occurred while responding to a rescue call.
France, a member of the Hoopeston Volunteer Fire Department for 12 years, was driving the rescue squad vehicle with emergency lights operating but no siren activated as it traveled south on Market Street. At the intersection of Market Street and Main Street, a passenger vehicle with the green light traveled west on Main Street through the intersection and struck France’s squad vehicle. France was thrown from his vehicle and pinned against the wall of a local business. France was transported to Hoopeston Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the civilian automobile was arrested for failure to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle.
Funeral services for France were held at Presbyterian Church on October 13, and he was buried at Floral Hill Cemetery. France was survived by his widow and two children.
Citations:
“C. E. France, Rescue Squad Captain, Killed,” Hoopeston Chronicle-Herald, October 11, 1966.