Men in stolen vehicle hit, kill VFD chief riding A ... - News - The Charleston Gazette

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June 25, 2009

Men in stolen vehicle hit, kill VFD chief riding ATV

By Gary A. Harki

Staff writer

Advertiser

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The chief of the Birch River Volunteer Fire Department in Nicholas County was killed in an ATV accident about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a statement from the department.

Robert Cottrill, 46, was riding an ATV when he was struck by a vehicle, according to the department. He had been a member of the department since 1981.

Cottrill was traveling west on Widen-Dille Road in Birch River when he was struck by a 2000 Dodge Durango stolen from Braxton County, according to the Nicholas County Sheriff's Department.

Both the driver and passenger of the vehicle initially fled the scene, according to police.

The driver, Jerry Shannon from Mill Creek Road in Birch River, turned himself in to police in Braxton County on Thursday, said Nicholas County Sheriff Wetzel Bennett. He is charged in Braxton County with leaving the scene of an accident causing death, Bennett said.

The passenger, Christopher Watson Summer from Stoney Creek in Braxton County, has been charged with robbery of the vehicle and maliciously wounding the owner, Bennett said.

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15 Comments on "Men in stolen vehicle hit, kill VFD chief riding ATV"
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Posted By: MsDalton (4:07am 07-12-2009)

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True - SO THE CRIMES the killers committed (stealing, being drunk and hitting someone and leaving the scene are NOT AS BAD as a law about ATV'S. tHIS I SIMPLY going to be used by folks who want STRICTER ATV laws. Shame on you

Posted By: MsDalton (4:04am 07-12-2009)

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My gosh the deceased is the victim - the criminals had stolen, and driven recklessly and caused his death. Whether he was on an ATV, a bicycle or walking - the bad guys COMMITED THE WORSE OFFENSES - especially murder - geesh - I don't think anybody would say anything about Mr. Cottrill - bless his heart and his family.

Posted By: curiousme (7:08am 06-27-2009)

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The fact that he was a volunteer doesn't really matter. It is a tragedy anyways. I feel bad for his family.

Posted By: majjoe (9:44am 06-26-2009)

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I too know Robert Cotrill personally and the record needs to be corrected for all this innuendo from busy bodies who apparently have nothing better to do than revel in the tragedy of others. Robert did not violate the law. The state law on ATVs authorizes users to access secondary roads to get onto trails etc. for their recreational pleasure. I know for a fact that he owns property across the river from his house. To access this property it requires him to travel about 600 yards of a secondary road. That was exactly where he was at when this accident occurred. I'm not saying I agree with this law -- in fact I vehemently disagree; however, our spinless law makers will not stand up and change the law because of the lobbying of interest groups that benefit finacially from selling ATVs etc. This is a horrible accident. Those charged in this accident were travelling at an extremely high rate of speed and hit Robert head on. Show a little compassion folks this man was a volunteer.

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