Fire Chief Killed Responding to MVC

ROBESON COUNTY – A Robeson County fire chief was killed Sunday in a wreck on Interstate 74 East while responding to an accident, according to the state Highway Patrol.

Samuel Butler, 52, of 11577 U.S. 74 in Maxton, was trying to make a U-turn in his 1993 Toyota Camry at the end of the on-ramp from the Cabinet Shop Road exit on I-74 when his vehicle was struck by an eastbound tractor-trailer just before 10 p.m., according to a report by Trooper M.J. Miles.

Butler, who was not wearing a seat belt, died on impact, he said.

Butler was chief of the Evans Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department in Maxton, and president of the Robeson County Fireman’s Association.

Miles said Butler was trying to reach an accident in the westbound lane at the same exit. The tractor-trailer was traveling about 60 mph when it struck Butler’s vehicle, Miles said. The speed limit in that area is 70 mph.

The driver of the truck, 37-year-old Robert Barrett of Malden, Mass., was not injured and will not face charges. He was wearing a seat belt.

No information was available on the accident that Butler was responding to.

From the US Fire Administration:

Name: Samuel Butler

Rank: Fire Chief

Age: 52

Gender: Male

Status: Volunteer

Years of Service: 21

Date of Incident: 01/08/2012

Time of Incident: 2255hrs

Date of Death: 01/08/2012

Fire Department: Evans Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department

Address: 3440 Elrod Road, Maxton, NC 28364

Fire Department Chief: Pending

Incident Description: While responding to a motor vehicle accident in his privately owned vehicle, Fire Chief Butler was struck and killed by a semi-trailer truck as he attempted a U-turn at the end of the eastbound I-74 onramp at Cabinet Shop Road.

Incident Location: Onramp eastbound lanes I-74 & Cabinet Shop Road

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending

Arrangements

Family Visitation will be at Purnell Swett High School (11344 Deep Branch Rd, Pembroke NC 28372) on Thursday, January 12 from 18:00 to 21:00 hours.

Memorial Service will be at Purnell Swett High School (11344 Deep Branch Rd, Pembroke NC 28372) on Friday January 13 at 15:00 hours.

Any Departments or Honor Guards planning to bring fire apparatus and/or participate in the Service will need to call (800) 678-3786 (NCFFF Memorial Hotline) for Apparatus Staging and Honor Guard Information.

All participating Departments/Honor Guards must be in place at Purnell Swett High School no later than 14:30 hours.

Additional Apparatus Staging Information will be forthcoming.

The Butler Family and Members of the Evans Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank everyone for their support and prayers during this time.