May 1-- Fairfield Fire Chief Kevin Sutton was killed Sunday in a horrific wreck with an 18-wheeler on I-59 in Birmingham that injured his wife and critically injured his daughter.
AL.com reports that the crash happened when a southbound 18-wheeler crossed the median into northbound traffic and struck two vehicles, one of which was Sutton's SUV.
Both vehicles traveled down an embankment. Sutton's daughter was thrown about 30 yards from the SUV while his wife, Phyllis, remained trapped inside. After she was extricated from the vehicle, both were rushed to UAB Hospital. Chief Sutton was pronounced dead at the scene.
Firefighters at the scene learned that Sutton was the victim when his wife informed them, and they saluted as his body was carried from the scene, according to AL.com.
"It is a loss of a great man and a great leader that will be felt for years to come,'' Fairfield Police Chief Nick Dyer told AL.com. "This is truly an awful day."
The 54-year-old Sutton was a member of the Fairfield Fire Dept. for nearly 24 years, according to AL.com.
