Florence,AL : Colbert coroner dies in accident on June, Tuesday 27th 2017

Colbert County Coroner Carlton Utley was killed Monday after being pinned beneath a trailer while a pickup was hauling it along Court Street and onto Irvine Avenue.

Police Chief Ron Tyler said a family member was driving the pickup when the incident occurred, apparently unaware Utley was beneath the trailer.

"A passerby flagged him down and let him know what happened," Tyler said.

The incident started near the intersection of Court and Tombigbee streets and ended at Irvine Avenue in front of the Harrison Plaza entrance to the University of North Alabama, police said.

That span covers approximately half a mile.

Tyler estimated the incident occurred between 12:15 p.m. and 12:20 p.m.

Police remained at the scene into the afternoon, and cordoned off the stretch from Court and Tombigbee to the Irvine-Harrison intersection.

The case remains under investigation. Tyler did not identify the driver other than to say he was a family member. He said a child also was in the truck when the accident occurred.

"It's a tragic accident," Tyler said. "It's a horrific scene. There's no other way to describe it."

The chief said the driver apparently dropped off Utley at a red light and drove forward when the light turned green, but Utley was between the truck and trailer at the time.

"We share the family's pain," the chief said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them. This is someone we all knew and cared about. It's a horribly sad day for public safety in the Shoals area to have this happen to a public servant like this."

The chief said police will conduct a thorough investigation.

"We'll take every measure to ensure there was nothing else," he said.

Tyler said Utley's family is asking for privacy at this time.

"He was always a kind and compassionate person who always cared about others, and now his family is going to need that," the chief said.

Colbert County officials who worked with Utley, who started his third term in 2014, said he always conducted the difficult job of a coroner with professionalism and compassion.

Colbert County Sheriff Frank Williamson said his heart goes out to Utley's family.

"He was a good guy and he took his job seriously," Williamson said. "That spoke well of him. It's a sad situation.

"We're here if the family needs us. We'll do what we can to help them out in these trying times," Williamson said.

"It was a tragic accident," said Mike Melton, director of the Colbert County Emergency Management Agency. "I can't believe what happened. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family."




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Colbert coroner dies in accident