BILLINGS — A tragic accident has left a Carbon County family grappling with an unimaginable loss and the Joliet and Laurel communities reeling from the death of a beloved volunteer firefighter.

On Dec. 22, 56-year-old Kevin Wilkerson, a retired Coast Guard veteran and longtime volunteer firefighter and EMT in Joliet died when a semi-truck lost control on Interstate 90 west of Laurel and collided with his family's SUV. His 16-year-old daughter Alyssa was severely injured and taken to the hospital where she now remains, while his wife Heather sustained a broken finger and 18-year-old son Ty broke his collarbone. Both have been released from the hospital.

Kevin will be remembered by many in his community for his unwavering commitment to service. His dedication to helping others extended beyond his military career and into his volunteer work with the Joliet Volunteer Fire Department as their secretary.

“He's going to be a big loss for the fire department and our community because he was always there to help,” said Melvin Hoferer, Kevin's father-in-law and the fire chief of the department. “He's going to be missed tremendously.”

Hoferer, who worked alongside Kevin for many years, held many fond memories of him and how he enjoyed entertaining those around him. His love for his family and incredible skills in the kitchen is how Hoferer remembers him best.

“He did all the cooking and everything like that, so that was his thing. He just loved to have people around," said Hoferer. "I guess I best remember him for his cooking, because we always had family dinners down there, and he was an excellent meat chef."

The family is reeling from this massive loss, but now are rallying around Alyssa as she begins the long process of recovery. Alyssa suffered multiple fractures, including a broken neck, femur, and both hands and swelling in her spinal cord. However, she has shown remarkable resilience in the face of her injuries. 

“She's a spunky little girl and that spirit's coming back, so she's getting her sense of humor back and she's a fighter. She knows she's in for a long battle and she's ready for it," said Hoferer.