Rocky Mount Vice Mayor killed in fire truck crash

11:25 p.m.

By Ashley Roberts
aroberts@wsls.com
WSLS Reporter

State police say a fatal crash happened this afternoon in Rocky Mount, near the intersection of Route 40 and Route 220.

A fire truck was headed east on Old Franklin Turnpike on its way to a house fire in the Penhook area.

Patricia Perdue owns a store near the intersection where the accident happened. She says it will be difficult to forget.

"It's traumatizing," she said. "It's terrible. I'm sure I'm not going to sleep for a few days."

We're told a Ford Escape coming from School Board Road entered the intersection at Old Franklin Turnpike and collided with the fire truck. The fire truck hit a curb and went airborne, rolled at least three times, and landed on top of a west-bound Mustang convertible.

Perdue heard the initial crash and ran out to help.

"One of the firemen was in the road," she said, "and I just started applying pressure and telling him it was okay."

Perdue said she even grabbed the shirt off of a good Samaritan's back to stop the bleeding until rescue crews arrived.

"I just tried to go in that survival mode and tried to save them," she said.

But she couldn't. The firefighters killed were Vice-Mayor Posey Dillon and William Altice.

Rocky Mount Mayor Steve Angle tells WSLS he served more than ten years on the town council with Vice Mayor Posey Dillon. Angle also said Dillon had volunteered with the fire department for more than 30 years and had just recently retired from AEP.

It's a tough loss for the Rocky Mount community, which is more like a family.

Many people came out to the scene of the accident, including Lorena Garcia.

"I've known them most of my life," Garcia said, "and they were very important to me."

As the community grieves, police are investigating the cause of the fatal crash, including the color of the light at the intersection at the time the SUV collided with the fire truck.

"From witness accounts it appears we did have emergency equipment activated," said Michael Bailey, a Virginia state officer when asked about the fire truck.

We're told Terry Valentine from Rocky Mount was driving the 2007 Ford Escape and was transported to Franklin Memorial with non life threatening injuries.

Carolyn Puckett of Basset, Va. was driving the 2000 Ford Mustang and was not injured.

The Franklin County Fire Marshall said the Rocky Mount Firefighters were headed to 803 Lake Park in Union Hall.

He said the single-family home was a total loss, but that there were no injuries in the fire.

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9:40 p.m.

ROCKY MOUNT - Rocky Mount Mayor Steven Angle tells WSLS Vice Mayor Posey Dillon died Monday afternoon.

Dillon served for more than 10 years on town council.

Mayor Angle says Dillon grew up in Franklin Co. but lived most of his life in Rocky Mount.

He adds Dillon volunteered with the fire department for more than 30 years and had just recently retired from AEP.

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9:12 p.m.

ROCKY MOUNT - State Police confirm that two Rocky Mount firefighters died Monday afternoon after their truck collided with an SUV, then landed on a car.

Their names are not being released pending notification of family members.

The firefighters were the only people on the truck when it hit an SUV, rolled, then landed on top of a car.

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7:00 p.m.

ROCKY MOUNT - State Police say at least one person is dead, following a fire truck crash in Rocky Mount Monday evening.

The crash happened before 5:00 p.m., across from the Sheetz in the town.

The fire truck landed on top of a Ford Mustang, and a Ford Escape SUV was also heavily damaged in the crash.

Sgt. Robert Carpentieri, with State Police's Salem division, tells us the State Police accident reconstruction team is on the scene to help.

10 On Your Side's Ashley Roberts is on the scene, and will have an update on the investigation, tonight on WSLS at 11:00 p.m.

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5:42 p.m.

ROCKY MOUNT - A WSLS photojournalist on the scene says he can see the fire truck on top of what appears to be a Ford Mustang. He also sees a damaged Ford Escape.

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5:08 p.m.

ROCKY MOUNT - State Police say a fire engine and another vehicle have crashed in the Town of Rocky Mount.

The crash is near the Sheetz, and has part of the road blocked off.

Sgt. Robert Carpentieri, with State Police's Salem division, tells us the State Police accident reconstruction team is on the scene to help.

WSLS has a crew on the way to the scene, and will bring you more information as we get it.