A Vicksburg Fire Department paramedic who was going to retire Jan. 15 was killed New Year’s Day in a two-car wreck near his home in Franklin Parish.

Louisiana State Police spokesman Trooper Michael Reichardt said Drue Randolph, 46, of Delhi, was killed when the Ford Focus he was driving and a Chevrolet pickup driven by a 16-year-old from Winnsboro, La., collided on Louisiana 17 about four miles south of Delhi.

The teen was not identified.

The accident occurred about 3:08 p.m. Deputy Franklin Parish Coroner Janice Posey said Randolph was pronounced dead at the scene. She said an autopsy was ordered.

“It happened about 1/2-mile from his house,” she said, adding Randolph worked for Northeast Louisiana Ambulance Service on his days off.

Vicksburg Fire Chief Charles Atkins said Randolph, who had been with the fire department for 25 years, worked at Station 8 and was a lieutenant paramedic.

Reichardt said the pickup driven by the teen was southbound on Louisiana 17 when it crossed the center line, hitting the Focus driven by Randolph, who was restrained. After the collision, both vehicles left the road and came to rest in a ditch. The 16-year-old was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The accident remains under investigation, he said.

Atkins said Randolph started as a firefighter and advanced through the ranks of the department.

“He was a good fellow,” he said, “He did his job very quietly.”

Although his address was listed as Delhi, Posey said Randolph lived in Franklin Parish. She described him as “a wonderful guy. He was in our first paramedics class at Northeast Louisiana Ambulance. He was one of my favorites.”

She said he joined Northeast Louisiana Ambulance in 2003 and worked part-time.

“He was very laid back and got along with everybody, he was very good with the patients,” she said. “Everyone liked him. This is very sad.”