Two Longtime Rocky Mount Firefighters Killed in Crash

An accident late Monday afternoon involving a fire truck and two other vehicles resulted in the deaths of Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon, 59, and firefighter William Daniel “Danny” Altice, 57.

The Roanoke Times reported that the firefighters were responding to a house fire when the fire truck, driven by Dillon, veered to miss an SUV that turned on to Old Franklin Turnpike from School Board Road. The Ford Escape, driven by Terry Valentine, 41, of Rocky Mount, struck the fire truck on the driver’s side causing the truck to flip.  The fire engine, with 1,000 gallons of water in its tank, rolled three times because of the shifting weight of the liquid and landed on a Ford Mustang driven by Carolyn Puckett, 47, of Bassett.

According to the Franklin News Post, both Altice and Dillon were thrown from the tumbling truck. Dillon was taken to the Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.  Altice was dead at the scene.  Both drivers of the other vehicles were treated at the hospital and released.

The state police confirm that the SUV was proceeding through a green light at the intersection and that investigation is ongoing regarding the speed of the vehicles and whether the fire engine slowed down or stopped at the intersection.

Altice had served with the fire department since 1963 and was fire chief from 1977 to 1984.  Dillon, who had served as the fire chief for the last 20 years and had been associated with the fire department since 1977, also served on the town council for 24 years, including 10 years as vice mayor.
 
According to reports, the two men are believed to be the first Rocky Mount firefighters killed in the line of duty in the department's 97-year history.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the two firefighters and their families, and we honor these two individuals who served our community for many years.