Florence Police and emergency responders are on the scene of a fatal accident involving Colbert County Coroner, Carlton Utley.
A death investigation is underway at the scene near the intersection of Irvine Avenue and Seminary Street close to the University of North Alabama campus.
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Police report Utley was dropped by of a family member driving a truck at the intersection of Tombigbee and Court Street. The truck was also carrying a trailer. Utley somehow became stuck between the truck and trailer as the vehicle pulled away.
Utley was dragged nearly half a mile before a passerby flagged down the driver of the truck.
Utley was pronounced dead at the scene.
Florence Police Dept @florence_pd “Currently, the Florence Police Department is investigating a very serious traffic accident involving a fatality…”
In an election bid, Utley posted the – all caps – “About Me” page on his website:
I WAS BORN AT COLBERT COUNTY HOSPITAL ON NOVEMBER 24, 1977 TO CARL EDWARD AND
CATHERINE WEST UTLEY. AS A CHILD, I GREW UP SPENDING MOST OF MY TIME IN MY
GRANDPARENT’S (CARL A. & LOUISE UTLEY) RESTAURANT (CARL’S PANCAKEHOUSE) IN TUSCUMBIA, AL.
DURING THIS TIME I LEARNED TO LOVE MY COMMUNITY AND MEETING PEOPLE. MY PARENTS AND
GRANDPARENTS INSTILLED A STRONG WORK ETHIC IN ME THAT I HAVE CARRIED WITH ME INTO MY ADULT
LIFE. I ATTENDED MUSCLE SHOALS HIGH SCHOOL MY FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARS AND I
GRADUATED FROM COLBERT HEIGHTS HIGHSCHOOL [sic] IN 1996. I WAS A MEMBER OF SPRING VALLEY
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. FROM 1994-1997, THIS IS WHERE MY LOVE FOR EMS AND HELPING PEOPLE
STARTED. I LEFT SPRING VALLEY VOL. FIRE DEPT. IN 1997 TO PURSUE MY EMS CAREER. I WORKED FULL TIME AT LAWRENCE COUNTY EMS AND PLEASANT BAY EMS WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE AND THERE AFTERWARD.
IN 2006, I RAN FOR CORONER OF COLBERT COUNTY BECAUSE I BELIEVED THERE WAS A NEED
FOR SOMEONE TO ADVANCE THE CORONER’S OFFICE AND IMPROVE THE SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS OF
COLBERT COUNTY. IN 2006, AT THE AGE OF 28, I WAS ELECTED AS THE CORONER OF COLBERT
COUNTY, BEING ONE OF THE YOUNGEST EVER ELECTED TO THAT OFFICE.
DURING MY TERM AS CORONER, I HAVE WORKED WITH THE COLBERT COUNTY COMMISSION TO
BETTER EQUIP THE CORONER’S OFFICE. WE NOW USE CORONER/ME SOFTWARE FOR BETTER
REPORTING SERVICES. THE CORONER’S OFFICE NOW TRANSPORTS DECEASED INDIVIDUALS FROM
WRECK AND CRIME SCENES IN A MARKED COUNTY OWNED TRANSPORT UNIT. THIS CAPABILITY
ALLOWS US TO MOVE THE DECEASED INDIVIDUALS [sic] FASTER PROTECTING THEIR DIGNITY, THEIR
FAMILIES EMOTIONAL WELL BEING AND PROTECTING THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY OF EVIDENCE UNTIL
THE DECEASED INDIVIDUAL CAN BE EXAMINED BY THE STATE PATHOLOGIST.
AS OF 2007, THE CORONER’S OFFICE NEVER HAD AN ACTUAL OFFICE. SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE,
THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND I AGREED UPON AN OFFICE LOCATION WHERE FILES COULD
BE SECURED AND FAMILIES COULD BE MET WITH. ONE OF MY PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WAS THAT I WAS ABLE TO JOIN COLBERT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND CITY LEADERS IN
PLACING PRESSURE ON THE STATE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE GOVERNOR’S
OFFICE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO HIGHWAY 43 IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE NUMBER
OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.
I AM MARRIED TO MICHELLE REECE UTLEY AND WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN. LEXIE IS 11 YEARS
OLD AND IN THE SIXTH GRADE AT DESHLER MIDDLE SCHOOL AND PLAYS DIXIE SOFTBALL IN
TUSCUMBIA. CARLON IS OUR NEWEST ADDITION, HE WAS BORN AT HELEN KELLER HOSPITAL
ON JANUARY 7, HE IS 3 MONTHS OLD. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN RE-ELECTING
ME TO THE COLBERT COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE SO THAT I MAY CONTINUE IN
ADVANCING THE CAPABILITIES OF THE CORONER’S OFFICE AND CONTINUE SERVING THE
CITIZENS OF COLBERT COUNTY IN A PROMPT, PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends at this difficult time.