Dallas County Coroner Franklin L. Bailey died Jan. 16 while assisting at a traffic accident in which one Selma teen was killed and another seriously injured.
According to authorities, Bailey died of an apparent heart attack that was unrelated to the accident.
The long-time paramedic with Haynes Ambulance and volunteer fireman had been called to the traffic fatality on County Road 2 shortly after 9 p.m.
Deputy Coroner Alan Dailey, who was also at the scene, said Bailey had already declared Morgan Academy junior Walter Harrison as dead and was treating the injuries of passenger Ashley Ammons when the heart attack occurred.
"Frank actually had (Ammons) mobilized and was treating her with the assistance of another paramedic when he had the heart attack," Dailey said. "There were two ambulances at the scene. We put the girl into one and Frank into the other. They were transferred to Vaughan Regional Medical Center."
It was there at Vaughan, Dailey said, that Bailey died.
"He had a history of medical problems, but there was no indication that this would happen," Dailey said.
Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman declared Dailey as the acting coroner on a temporary basis.
Bailey was in the middle of his second term as county coroner. It is an elected position, but he ran unopposed in the last election.
Donnell Caffey, manager of Haynes Ambulance, said Bailey had been with the company for the past 20 years.
"He was a good man," Caffey said. "It's a sad day for Haynes and a sad day for all EMTs."
Co-workers say it is not too surprising that Bailey died while trying to help others.
"If there was any way he could help, he would do it," Caffey said.
Dailey said he will be meeting with Probate Judge Johnny Jones and Huffman today to decide what steps need to be taken.
"It's not very often that someone dies while in elected office," Dailey said. "We will have to decide what to do in a situation like this."
Dailey said he had known Bailey for the past 25 years and described him as being "dedicated to the community and a good paramedic."
The funeral will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church on Highway 22.
