Aside from the release of details surrounding the tragic demise of a beloved fire captain, a fundraiser has been set up to assist his bereaved family.
On Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025, a deadly car collision in Texas claimed the life of Killeen Fire Captain Marvin Taylor III. Adding another layer of sorrow to the tragedy is the fact that Captain Taylor died moments after welcoming his fifth child. The man held responsible for his death has since been arrested.
According to authorities, the fatal crash that claimed Taylor’s life occurred in the early hours of Sunday, around 1:05 a.m., in the 600 block of E. Koenig Lane.
The beloved fire captain had just left an Austin hospital, where he had welcomed his new baby, and was en route to reunite with his other children so they could meet their newborn sibling. Tragically, he never made it.
As he drove through the city in a van, his vehicle was violently struck from behind by an SUV traveling at high speed. Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene. Two days later, on May 13, police in Austin confirmed the arrest of 34-year-old Rodney Bremby in connection with the devastating incident.
He now faces a charge of intoxication manslaughter and remains in custody at the Travis County Jail, where his bond has been set at $103,000. In the wake of the tragedy, the city of Killeen paid tribute by lowering all municipal flags in Captain Taylor’s honor at 8 a.m. on Monday. They will remain in this position until 8 a.m. on the day after Taylor’s burial.
His body was escorted from Austin to the Temple mortuary services by a solemn procession of fire and emergency service vehicles. Captain Taylor, a veteran of the Killeen Fire Department for over a decade, was promoted less than a year ago to the rank of Operations Training Captain, a role he carried with pride and purpose.
This followed after his promotion to Fire Captain on July 12, 2024. In a heartfelt statement, Killeen Fire Chief James Kubinski extended his gratitude to the public for their support, while also requesting space for both the department and Taylor’s loved ones to grieve privately.
The City of Killeen also paid its respects to the beloved captain via a tribute the governmental organization shared on Facebook.
“He was a highly respected and decorated member of our Fire Department, serving since 2014 […] Captain Taylor was known for his dedication, leadership, and countless deployments with Texas A&M Task Force 1 and TIFMAS,” reads a portion of the message.
The statement goes on to highlight how Taylor will be remembered not just for his service, but for how he impacted people around him. Like Chief Kubinski, the government body asked for privacy and patience for Taylor’s family and colleagues. It also clarified that updates on the case and ways to show Taylor’s family support would be made apparent in the following days.
Underneath their message were two photos — one showing Taylor posing confidently in uniform and the other, a close-up of his silver badge. As news of the tragedy circulated online, many people took to social media platforms to express their outrage and sorrow. Public commentary was swift and impassioned, particularly in response to the charge of intoxication manslaughter and Bremby’s bond amount.
