( CNN ) -- Duty called a volunteer firefighter in New Hampshire on Christmas Eve to the site of a fatal car crash , where fate dealt him a heartbreaking blow . The mangled body of a dying woman he removed from the crushed SUV in the town of Brookline was his own daughter , CNN affiliate WMUR reported , citing police . Ellworth Austin said he knew both the volunteer firefighter , Steve Whitcomb , and the daughter , Katie Hamilton . `` It 's a terrible tragedy , '' said Austin , who , like Whitcomb , runs a plumbing business in Brookline . `` It 's Christmas ... and everybody is pretty teary-eyed . '' The firefighter did n't recognize his daughter 's body at the time , police chief Bill Quigley told local newspaper The Union Leader . `` Her father was the one who pulled her out of the car without knowing it was her , '' Quigley said . Hamilton , 30 , died of her injuries caused when another vehicle struck hers from behind , pushing it into the opposing lane of traffic , where a third car collided with hers head on , Quigley told WMUR . Hamilton leaves behind not only her father . `` I know that she is a young mother , '' Quigley said . `` It 's a sad , sad day for all of us , not just because it 's Christmas Eve . '' In Brookline , almost everyone knows Whitcomb and the tragedy he has suffered . The town of 4,000 holds Hamilton and Whitcomb in high regard , Quigley said . The drivers of the other vehicles were not hurt . Police think the driver of the car that rear-ended Hamilton may have been distracted , the chief said . `` We are pretty certain that speed and impairment were not a factor so that would rule it down to driver distraction at this point , '' Quigley said . Police are still investigating the cause , and no one has been charged , WMUR reported . Girl whose wish inspired mass Christmas carol celebration dies . CNN 's Darrell Calhoun contributed to this report .
Report : Firefighter did not know the dying woman he pulled from wreckage was his daughter . Katie Hamilton died at age 30 ; she was a mother . One vehicle rear-ended hers , pushing it into an oncoming car that hit her head on . Police say the driver who rear-ended her car may have been distracted .