State trooper dies after sting by wasp
Hannah Schaefer | Staff Writer Posted: Thursday, August 23rd, 2007
WESTFIELD TWP. — A 19-year state highway patrol veteran was killed by a wasp sting he received at the patrol’s commercial driver’s license testing facility on Lake Road Tuesday afternoon.
Trooper Jack Holland Jr., 45, a salvage inspector working under the patrol’s Massillon district, was stung by a yellow jacket around 1 p.m. at his desk after conducting vehicle inspections at the facility’s garage.
“We knew of his allergies to bee stings, and he had the (epinephrine) shots with him,†patrol Sgt. Toby Smith said. “He was able to give himself two shots, but he didn’t respond to it well, and the folks that were working up at the garage immediately called the EMS squad.â€
Holland was transported by the Westfield rescue squad to Lodi Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 2:30 p.m.
“Here’s a strong, relatively young state trooper who’s faced many adversities in his career lifetime … dealing with the criminal element, and all of a sudden a bee sting takes him,†Smith said. “It’s one of those tragic events.â€
Holland, of West Salem, is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and three children.
Holland had worked throughout Ohio with the patrol, starting his career at the Findlay post in September 1987. In the following years, he worked at posts in Sandusky, Elyria and Ashland.
Holland started with the Massillon district as a salvage inspector in 2003. Smith said salvage inspectors check vehicles that have been reassembled after accidents or other events to ensure all parts are up to code.
“He was a good guy, a good family guy and a very hard-working individual,†Smith said. “We definitely have suffered a great loss with the passing of Trooper Holland.â€