First responders honor Raleigh firefighter killed in crash

Lt. Herman Gregory Ellis, with the Raleigh Fire Department, died Sunday after a five-vehicle crash on Interstate 540 at Six Forks Road.

The crash occurred around noon, and Division Chief Lowell Smith said Ellis was off duty at the time.

Photos from the scene showed Ellis' overturned vehicle, with several damaged vehicles around it. A booster seat can be seen in the photos, but State Highway Patrol troopers at the scene said the driver was the only occupant of the overturned Mazda.

On Monday, a procession of fire engines and police cars escorted Ellis' body to Lea Funeral Home.

Ellis had been with the fire department since 2008 and was assigned to Ladder Company 8. He also served in the department’s Professional Development Division as an instructor with the Fire Academy.

"He was one of those people who we looked at as unbreakable, invincible," said Raleigh firefighter Timothy Caldwell. "He was soft-spoken, but he could grab your attention with little effort, and he was just someone all of us could look to as a mentor."

Caldwell said he spoke to Ellis on Friday and never imagined it would be the last time.

"I was actually playing video games with my son, and I happened to look down at my phone – incoming call from one of my friends – and he broke to news to me. I went to the bedroom, told my wife and both of us were pretty messed up," said Caldwell.

Although many didn't get a chance to say goodbye, Ellis' close friends said he knew exactly what he meant to many at the fire department.

"That was something I always took seriously when it comes to people -- letting them know how much of an impact they've had in my life. There's really nothing else for me to say to him because I've already told him," said Caldwell.