Firefighter killed in off-duty bike accident

Firefighter W. Mark Braswell was 43. Firefighter W. Mark Braswell was 43. Photo: Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department Photo: Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Firefighter killed in off-duty bike accident 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A leader in both the Houston Fire Department and the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department died Friday in an off-duty bicycle accident.

HFD Capt. W. Mark Braswell, 43, collided into the back of a trailer about 3:30 p.m. along North Bridgeland Lake Parkway and Shorelands in northwest Harris County, authorities said.

Braswell was flown by Life Flight helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.

Braswell was assigned to HFD Station 6, 3402 Washington, and also served as assistant chief with Cy-Fair's volunteer department, where he was in charge of the department's dispatch and communications section, officials said.

"We've lost someone in our brotherhood," Cy-Fair spokesman Robert Rasa said. "He was our friend and mentor."