Volunteer firefighter, 17, dies after ATV crash at Johnston County racing event

A young volunteer firefighter died Saturday evening during a car racing event at Galot Motorsports Park in Johnston County.

Posted 1:32 p.m. Mar 31, 2019 — Updated 3:32 p.m. Apr 1, 2019

DUNN, N.C. — A young volunteer firefighter died Saturday evening during a car racing event at Galot Motorsports Park in Johnston County.

According to the Johnston County Sheriff's Office, Brock Currens, 17, was driving an ATV and hit the brakes too abruptly. Officials said he flipped over the handrail of his ATV and later died at WakeMed as a result of traumatic brain injuries.

A Facebook event advertises the event at the park as a "Galot Crash Derby" that featured "full-contact" car racing.

According to the event page, about 20 drivers participated in the event held Saturday at 7 p.m. at the park located off Highway 242 near Dunn.

According to Captain Michael Bradley with the Four Oaks Fire Department, Currens served on the Galot Motor Park fire brigade team and was a volunteer firefighter with Four Oaks for two years.

Park manager Dana Strickland said Currens was not working at the time of the incident, but he decided to stay in case help was needed with crashes and fires.

Multiple spectators told WRAL News on Sunday that an ambulance with the words New Jersey on it was the first to assist Currens at the scene. Strickland said EMS arrived in about 12 minutes.

According to the Four Oaks Fire Department, Currens was a junior at South Johnston High School.

"He loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed his truck and making it louder," the department said in a statement. "Brock will be missed by everyone."

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