Heavy rainfall, flooding across central Indiana – 4/5/2025 BRAZIL, Ind. (WISH) — A firefighter with the Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department died in the line of duty Saturday, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. At 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Clay County deputies and Posey Towns hip firefighters were dispatched to a vehicle stranded in water on State Road 42 in Posey Township. At 12:21 a.m. Saturday, Clay County officials received a secondary call on State Road 42 between County Road 100 East and State Road 59. It was reported that a vehicle had left the roadway and struck a tree. Clay County deputies and Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department firefighters were dispatched to the scene and found the single-vehicle accident was a Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department member who was believed to have been responding to the original call of a vehicle stranded in the water. The Posey Township firefighter was identified as Roy A. Smith, 60, of Center Point, Indiana. Due to the severity of the crash, fire personnel had to extricate Smith from the vehicle. Life-saving measures were taken at the scene and on the way to the hospital. Smith died from his injuries during the early morning hours while at the hospital. In addition to working for the Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department, Smith also served as a deputy coroner with the Clay County Coroner’s Office. The Clay County Coroner’s Office requested that the Parke County Coroner’s Office conduct the death investigation. That investigation is ongoing. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of the accident. Investigators believe the roadway surface conditions could have contributed to the cause of the accident. The primary cause is still under investigation. Further information regarding Smith’s service to Clay County and several township fire departments will be provided by the township fire chiefs that he served. ...read more read less