‘Top-notch’ SC firefighter dies in fatal motorcycle crash

A North Myrtle Beach firefighter was killed in a deadly motorcycle crash Wednesday afternoon in the Aynor area of Horry County, authorities said.

Jennifer Hanna, 37, of Aynor was taken to Grand Strand Medical Center where she died of her injuries, officials said.

The fatal crash happened at 4:53 p.m. at S.C. 319 and Old Tram Road and involved a 2009 Harley Davidson and a 2007 Hyundai, according Cpl. Judd Jones with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The driver of a Hyundai was traveling north on SC 319 and turned left on to Old Tram Road in front of a motorcycle that was heading south and the motorcycle hit the car.

SCHP authorities said Hanna was wearing a helmet.

The 26-year-old driver of the Hyundai was not injured, but a passenger with them was taken to Grand Strand Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, Jones said.

According to North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue’s Facebook page, Hanna was a firefighter/EMT with them.

“It is with heavy sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Firefighter/EMT Jennifer Hanna this evening. FF Hanna was involved in an MVA involving her motorcycle near her home and succumbed to her injuries at Grand Strand Hospital,” North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday night.

Hanna joined the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety in 2013 as a communications/detention officer with their communication’s division. In September 2014, she began her EMT training and transferred to the North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue Division in January where she was assigned to ladder 734 on C-battalion, NMBFR authorities said.

“She was an integral part of our team and her strength and courage went above and beyond many others as we grieved the loss of her husband FF/EMT Mitch Hanna of Horry County Fire Rescue just three weeks prior to her first shift of fire duty with us back in January,” NMBFR said in the Facebook posting.

Hanna used the loss of her husband as her inspiration to be a “top-notch” firefighter, and she was also an active volunteer with Horry County Fire Rescue, NMBFR authorities said.

“She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. There will definitely be a void that can never be filled,” NMBFR officials said in the Facebook posting.

Our Grand Strand news alliance partner, WPDE contributed to this story.

This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 2:25 PM with the headline "‘Top-notch’ SC firefighter dies in fatal motorcycle crash."