WATAUGA COUNTY, N.C. — Firefighters are mourning the loss of one of their own who was taken in a deadly crash north of Boone. The man accused of causing it has been charged with driving while impaired, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
It happened at 8:15 a.m. Monday along Highway 321 North, near the intersection of Phillips Branch Road.
The chief of the Cove Creek Fire Department said firefighters were responding to the crash when they found out that a fellow firefighter had died. Chief Steve Marks’ all-volunteer department is about a three minute drive from the crash scene. He said when firefighters arrived, they immediately recognized the overturned truck.
Investigators said they discovered a 2008 Ford F-250 truck was driving north when it ran off the right side of the road. It overcorrected, crossing the center line and hitting a 2012 Ford Escape heading south. The pickup truck then hit a 2002 Ford F-250 also heading south, authorities said.
The driver of the 2008 pickup truck, 28-year-old Jeremy Daniel Denney, was taken to the hospital but was not seriously hurt, troopers said. Denney is from Sugar Grove in Watauga County.
The man driving the 2002 pickup truck died at the scene, authorities said. He was identified as 43-year-old Raymond Jefferidge Kerley III, also from Sugar Grove. According to Chief Marks, “Jay” Kerley was a volunteer firefighter at Cove Creek Fire.
“Jay touched everyone in the community through all that he did. I think when we talk about Jay Kerley, we talk about service and we talk about a big, warm heart,” Marks said. “And all that he did here at the fire department, his role with his son, and his family.”
Investigators said the driver of the SUV was critically hurt and was taken to the hospital.
Troopers believe Denney was impaired with alcohol and said that contributed to causing the crash.
Kerley had been working at the department for 18 years, starting his career at Cove Creek Fire and also working at the fire marshal’s office. He most recently worked at the Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management team at Appalachian State University.
The crash happened in front of Craig Doughty’s home. He told Channel 9′s Dave Faherty he knew Kerley.
“All of those types of accidents are horrible but when you know somebody, it really hits home,” Doughty said. “Especially when you know them somewhat personally.”
App State released a statement saying in part “The hearts of the App State community are with Jay’s family and loved ones during this very difficult time.”
Marks said he can still the impact Kerley made on him.
“It’s truly a tragedy,” he said. “But knowing Jay’s warm heart, I feel somewhere in there is a sense of forgiveness and at the same time, a sense of accountability.”
Jeremy Denney was arrested and charged with felony death by vehicle, felony serious injury by vehicle, driving while impaired and reckless driving, investigators said. He is in the Watauga County jail with a $100,000 bond.
Highway 321 was closed for about five hours while troopers investigated.
On Tuesday night, Cove Creek firefighters will gather for a debriefing to discuss what happened and remember Jay Kerley.
(WATCH BELOW: Road blocked after crash brings utility pole down in northwest Charlotte)
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