| Name | William Harrison |
| Agency | Villa Grove Fire Department |
| Rank | Firefighter |
| Type of Firefighter | Volunteer |
| Age Range | 31 to 35 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 1/16/1923 |
| Date of Death | 8/8/1958 |
| Cause of Death | Thrown from vehicle |
| Nature of Death | Trauma |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Training duties |
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Villa Grove |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 8/7/1958 20:0 |
| Incident Location | Street/Road |
| Incident Attribute | Traffic accidents , Training accidents |
On August 8, 1958, Firefighter William Dean Harrison, Jr., of the Village Grove Fire Department died in the line of duty following a training accident that occurred the previous day.
On August 7, Harrison was riding on the running board of a fire truck during a training exercise when he was struck by tree branches. Harrison was knocked under the rear wheels of the truck, and he suffered crushing injuries. He was transported to Jarman Memorial Hospital in Tuscola, where he died from his injuries the next morning.
Funeral services for Harrison were held at Villa Grove Baptist Church on August 10, and he was interred at Villa Grove Cemetery. He was survived by his widow, two children, five siblings, and his parents.
Citations:
“Run Over by V.G. Fire Truck, Dies,” News-Gazette, August 9, 1958.
“Find Death Of Fireman Accidental,” News-Gazette, August 10, 1958.