Botetourt County Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom said this morning that he will not seek charges against a firefighter who in May crashed the firetruck he was driving head-on into another vehicle, killing two people.
 
Volunteer firefighter Lucas McCulloch, 27, of Eagle Rock, was responding to a wreck north of Eagle Rock on May 26. He was northbound on U.S. 220 north of Eagle Rock when the firetruck crossed the center line just south of Kelley’s Market, hitting a southbound pickup truck head-on. The driver of the pickup truck, Russell Meadows, 44, of Covington, and his passenger, Judi Clark Martin, 46, of Clifton Forge, died at the scene.
 
The Virginia State Police's investigation into the crash revealed that a combination of inappropriate braking, speed and the downward curve in the road caused water in the fire truck's tank to shift, Branscom said. That shift put most of the truck's weight on the front driver tire, making it impossible for McCulloch to steer the truck. The investigation also found that McCulloch was driving at the posted speed limit.
 
Based on the findings, there is no evidence to support charges of manslaughter or reckless driving, Branscom said.
 
McCulloch is trained in the operation of emergency vehicles and has no moving violations on his driving record, Branscom said.
 
In 2002, McCulloch was charged with reckless driving while in a pickup truck registered as an emergency vehicle, but he was ultimately convicted of defective equipment, Branscom said. For that, he lost his driver's license for 60 days, spent a day in jail, completed a driver improvement program, performed 48 hours of community service and paid a $100 fine.