911 tapes released in double fatal accident involving fire truck

  Authorities released the 911 tape of a double fatal accident involving a Botetourt County volunteer fire truck last Memorial Day on Route 220.

  The accident killed Russ Meadows, 46, and his girlfriend Judi Martin, 44, both of Alleghany County.

  Botetourt County commonwealth’s attorney Joel Branscom said Thursday evening he did not have enough evidence to charge the volunteer firefighter police believe caused the accident, Lucas McCulloch, with any crime.

  Click here to listen to an edited portion of the 911 tape

  Branscom said volunteer firefighters and rescuers responding to the scene thought there might have been injuries at an accident scene.

  The accident scene was less than one half mile from the scene where the fire truck and Meadows’ pick up truck collided head on.

McCulloch’s current status as a volunteer:

  McCulloch has not driven an Eagle Rock Volunteer Fire Department truck since, according to Eagle Rock volunteer fire chief Darryl Johns.
  Johns confirmed McCulloch was still a member of the department.
  Johns said an administrative hearing would be held to reinstate McCulloch’s driving privileges.
  He did not say when that hearing might take place.

Martin family reaction:
  Judi Martin’s 16 year old daughter, Kristen, and other family members said they expect to file a civil lawsuit against several parties involved in the incident.
  The family declined to say when that suit might be filed.

More important notes on the investigation:

  Branscom said a Virginia State Trooper, a state police accident reconstruction team, and an expert team from Virginia Commonwealth University all looked at many details from the accident.
  Investigators believe a “catastrophic weight shift of water” in the tank of the fire truck McCulloch was driving caused him to lose control.
  Branscom said McCulloch’s decision to brake as he was going around a curve more than likely caused the weight shift.
  Branscom said McCulloch told investigators he thought he was travelling around 55 mph, the legal speed limit.
  A driver behind McCulloch’s truck also told investigators he thought he was doing around 55 mph, confirming McCulloch’s information.
  There were no visible skid (tire) or yaw (basically state police jargon for a piece of a vehicle leaving a mark while stopping other than a tire) marks at the scene.  This made it more difficult to determine speeds.
  The reconstruction found Meadows (the driver of the pick up) probably veered right moments before impact.  Police believe that split second adjustment put his pick up in a direct path with the fire truck.
  McCulloch cooperated fully in the investigation, Branscom said.
  Branscom said analysis of the 911 tape revealed volunteer firefighters did not know there were no significant injuries at an accident scene in which they were dispatched. 
  The accident was about a quarter of a mile away from where McCulloch and Meadows collided.
  Branscom said the investigation was not over.  If any more information came to light, it would be looked into thoroughly.