LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- One of the Marion County firefighters hospitalized after a tanker truck overturned Friday evening died at a Louisville hospital Monday afternoon.
Brian Hatt's death was confirmed in an email from Raywick Fire Department spokesman Michael Wright Tuesday morning.
"As of 3:49pm of 08/25/25 Lieutenant Brian Jay Hatt passed away at the University of Louisville," Wright said in a written statement. "Brian was surrounded by his wife, his family, his friends, his fire department family, and the loving staff of the University of Louisville Hospital.
"Brian served proudly 12 years in the army and 12 years on the fire department."
The Raywick Fire Department posted a tribute to Hatt on its Facebook page Tuesday morning.
"Lieutenant Hatt was more than a firefighter – he was family to all of us at the Raywick Fire Department," Raywick Fire Chief Herman Riggs said in the post. "His legacy of service and sacrifice will live on in the department and in the hearts of the community he so selflessly served."
Funeral arrangements are still pending.
Kentucky State Police said in a news release that Hatt, of Raywick, was driving north on KY 537 in a Raywick Fire Department 2008 International tanker truck on his way to assist the Loretto Fire Department on a fire call, when the truck dropped off the right shoulder, causing the edge of the road to collapse.
Hatt lost control and crossed the highway before the truck went off the left side, struck an embankment and overturned. He was ejected, and his passenger — 58-year-old Leonard Winkler, also of Raywick — became trapped inside.
Hatt was flown to UofL Health Hospital in Louisville, while Winkler was flown to UK Hospital in Lexington with serious injuries.
The crash happened in Joe Cecil's front yard.
"I’ve seen countless cars go off of there, and sometimes they go off and find a way to get back on the road," Cecil said. "Sometimes they drive through our field and go through two or three gates and get back on the road."
This time, the outcome was tragic.
Pictured: tire tracks mark the spot where a Raywick Fire Department tanker truck lost control on KY 537 in Marion County, Ky., in the evening hours of Aug. 22, 2025. (WDRB/Dalton Godbey)
"I heard the sirens going, and I heard a big crash," Cecil said. "Then my wife came running down the hill and told me to dial 911. She said, 'somebody's hurt bad.'"
"It's heart-wrenching knowing that it happened right there," he said. "I'm still tore up about it. You don't want that to happen to anybody."
Cecil said he helped first responders as they provided first-aid to Hatt in his yard.
Winkler continues to recover at UK Hospital.
"He is still in good spirits," Wright said. "He was able to watch our candid vigil the other night via video call."
Wright said both men served with honor and distinction.
"I can say that both men were always there to answer the call," Wright said. "Where you seen them, you were always able to have a friend, somebody that had your back, and somebody that was always willing to do what it takes to need to get the job done."
Wright said Hatt and Winkler are more than firefighters. "They're family, they're friends, they're brothers."
Wright said it has been a surreal experience. "It was a very hard pill to swallow. It was almost that it was a dream."
Raywick also lost a tanker truck in the crash, but the New Hope Fire Department is loaning one of its tankers to the Raywick Fire Department so it can continue to provide service.
"No matter what community you are in, no matter what agency you are with, if the tones drop, we are there to answer the call," Wright said.
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