Birch River fire chief killed when his ATV struck by stolen SUV

From Staff and Wire Reports

June 25, 2009 11:37 am

— The Nicholas County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man it says was driving a stolen vehicle that struck and killed a volunteer fire chief who was riding an all-terrain vehicle along Widen-Dille Road in Birch River.
Robert Cottrill Jr. was the chief of the Birch River Volunteer Fire Department. Police say the 47-year-old Cottrill was riding his ATV Wednesday about 6:30 p.m. when he was struck by a 2000 Dodge Durango that had been stolen in Braxton County.
Police say the SUV’s driver and a passenger fled the scene. Police have identified the driver as Jerry Shannon Adkins of Birch River.
The passenger, Christopher Summers, was picked up as he hitch-hiked along Widen Dille-Road a short time later by a Nicholas County deputy.
Police would not say Thursday whether Summers has been charged with a crime.
Cpl. J.J. Underwood is investigating the accident.