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PARK CITY — The community is rallying support for a young firefighter from Summit County who remains hospitalized in critical condition after a motorcycle crash Saturday. Jeremy Morgan grew up in Park City and started work with the North Summit Fire Department a year ago. In just a week, he would have resumed his summer work patrolling for fires as assistant county fire warden.
"It has hit us all very hard," said Summit County Fire Warden Bryce Boyer. The 24-year-old firefighter Morgan should have been back in the truck with Boyer next week hunting for fires.
"He had a really good understanding of wildland fire behavior," said Boyer.
Morgan was riding a motorcycle, wearing a helmet, when he was hit by a private school bus Saturday morning in Peoa. The impact of the crash forced him under the bus and he suffered multiple injuries. Morgan was flown to the University of Utah Medical Center with life-threatening injuries where he has had several successful surgeries to repair his femur and other internal injuries.
No one on the bus was hurt. The Utah Highway Patrol cited the driver for failing to yield to oncoming traffic.
"He's a really outgoing guy," Boyer said about Morgan. "Very dedicated to working in fire."
When they weren't keeping the community alert to fire dangers, Boyer said he and Morgan worked on community education to prevent wildfires.
"We not only look for fires, we also help educate the community and work with the homeowners on defensible space to make their properties more safe in the event of fires," he said. "I hope he is back soon. I miss not having him around."
Jeremy Morgan's brother started a fundraising campaign online to help handle the expenses ahead.
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