1521. Ashley Cleon Weikle
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Crash victim held in high esteem
Fellow firefighters said Ashley Weikle was dedicated to his family and careers.
By Sheila Ellis and Jorge Valencia The Roanoke Times
Fellow firefighters described Ashley Cleon Weikle, who died in a head-on tractor-trailer collision on Interstate 64 in Alleghany County on Friday night, as a generous friend and a dedicated volunteer firefighter.
"He would do anything to help his fellow firefighters and neighbors," said Gean Wilhelm, firefighter at the Clifton Forge Fire Department.
On Friday night, Weikle, who is also a truck driver for Team Carrier Inc. of Covington, wasn't too far from home before another tractor-trailer traveling on I-64 east crashed into Weikle's truck on a four-and-a-half-mile stretch east of Covington where only one lane is open in each direction because of road construction, the Virginia Department of Transportation said.
Weikle, 44, died at the scene, said Sgt. Rob Carpentieri of the Virginia State Police. He had recently celebrated his first wedding anniversary and had no children, co-workers said.
The volunteer firefighter spent time at the Clifton Forge fire house on his off days from trucking, fellow volunteer firefighter Ashley Hatcher said.
"He was dedicated to both of his jobs and family to the max," Hatcher said.
The driver of the other tractor-trailer, Marcadieu Valmond, 31, of Denver was not hurt. He was charged with reckless driving, according to police.
According to VDOT's website, the construction on I-64 where the crash took place is to protect motorists from crossover collisions between east- and westbound traffic.
The two tractor-trailers crashed at mile marker 19 when Valmond's 2007 Kenworth box trailer, which was eastbound, fell into the median and crossed into the opposite lanes, Carpentieri said.
Valmond's trailer sheared off the cab from Weikle's tractor, sending it tumbling 150 feet into the Jackson River, Carpentieri said. Rescue crews found Weikle's body on a log nearby.
sheila.ellis@roanoke.com <mailto:sheila.ellis@roanoke.com> 981-3234
jorge.valencia@roanoke.com <mailto:jorge.valencia@roanoke.com> 981-3349
