Authorities have identified the two adults killed when a pickup truck crashed into a tree in California earlier this month.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday, Dec. 10, that its Coroner Division has identified the victims of the Dec. 7 crash as 42-year-old Ryan Paul Rizzuto and 41-year-old Danielle Marie Rizzuto, both of Reno, Nevada.
Ryan served as a battalion chief with the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District in Reno, according to a statement from the agency.
The California Highway Patrol said the couple and their two children were traveling in a Chevrolet pickup on Highway 50 near Kyburz in El Dorado County when the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree on the south side of the highway, CHP Placerville spokesperson Officer Andrew Brown told The Sacramento Bee.
An 8-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl who were also in the truck sustained major injuries, according to officials. Their parents were pronounced dead at the scene.
On Wednesday, multiple departments from northern Nevada took part in a special procession to honor the fallen battalion chief, according to the Professional Firefighters of Nevada, which shared footage of the tribute on Facebook.
Critical incident support resources were offered to all Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District members following what the agency described as an “unexpected loss.”
“We recognize that events like this impact not only our organization but also the broader community we serve, and we are committed to supporting one another through this challenging time,” the department said in its news release.
The statement continued, “Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and colleagues of Chief Rizzuto. We ask the community to please keep them in your hearts and prayers.”
Authorities have not released an update on the children’s conditions. The California Highway Patrol has not yet responded publicly to a request for additional comment.
The crash remains under investigation.
