Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A Virginia jury has returned a defense verdict in favor of the estate of the driver of an engine company that collided with a civilian vehicle back in 2010, resulting in two firefighter fatalities.
Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Chief, Posey Dillon, and firefighter Danny Altice were killed in the July 26, 2010 accident. Chief Dillon was driving the engine on a mutual aid run to a reported structure fire when it collided with an SUV driven by Teri Anne Valentine. The engine rolled over three times.
Altice's estate sued the estate of Chief Dillon and Valentine claiming Dillon was speeding and Valentine was negligent in not yielding the right of way.
The jury found that Chief Dillon was not liable for the accident, and held Valentine liable for the costs Altice's funeral, nearly $10,000.
