FLORENCE, Ala.-- Longtime police officer David Young was doing what he had always wanted to do Thursday when his life abruptly ended in a crash in north Florence.
Young was patrolling the streets on his motorcycle, performing what he always considered a crucial role for his community.
Suddenly, authorities said, a vehicle pulled out in front of him as he reached the Wood Avenue-Button Avenue intersection, just north of the Seven Points area.
The collision with the sport utility vehicle sent Young airborne in one direction and his crash helmet in another. Both vehicles burst into flames, sending thick, black smoke skyward.
Young, despite being pulled by witnesses from the fiery crash, did not survive.
Young, who co-workers affectionately called "Officer Smiley," was 46.
"The only complaint I ever had about David was that he would smile when he was writing someone a ticket,'' said Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton, as he paused, fighting back tears during an afternoon news conference.
"That's why they called him Officer Smiley. You never saw David when he wasn't smiling,'' said Daniel Michael, pastor of Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church and a longtime friend of Young's.
Young began his 15th year with the police department in January.
"This is one duty a police chief hopes he never has to do,'' Singleton said as he talked about the accident that claimed Young's life.
A white ribbon was hung on the door at the police department Thursday afternoon. There was a noticeable silence as Singleton addressed reporters.
"It's kind of a numb feeling,'' Lt. Randy England said. "This is just devastating. David Young was a good man; he's the finest Christian man I knew.''
Several officers wept at the crash scene as they were told of Young's death. Others held their heads in their hands, and some seemed to be in a daze as they walked away from the debris of the crash in an apparent attempt to control their emotions.
Several of Young's fellow officers gathered at Eliza Coffee Hospital afterward to support each other and Young's family.
"(Law enforcement) is not just a fraternity, but a family,'' Singleton said. "This is tough on everyone. We have a fine group of men and women in this department who care about each other. That's evident by the scene at the-hospital.''
Singleton said Young was assigned to the department's Crash Reduction Unit for seven or eight years. Officers in the unit commonly use motorcycles while on patrol.
State troopers and agents with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation were called in to investigate the accident since a Florence police officer was involved.
Three people in the SUV were taken to ECM Hospital for treatment, but their injuries were believed to be minor.
The vehicle was driven by 62-year-old Linda Mackey, 121 Lee Ave., Florence. Witnesses said she appeared to be attempting to turn south onto Wood Avenue from Button Avenue when the accident happened.
Young was driving north on Wood Avenue. His motorcycle appeared to crash into the vehicle near the driver's side door. It came to rest at the rear of the vehicle. Young's helmet came to rest more than 100 feet from the crash site.
Rusty Anderson was working outside his grandparents' house on Button Avenue when he heard the accident.
"I knew it was bad, and I just took off running down the hill,'' Anderson said.
Andy Underwood, Joe Croom and Condre Cole were at A&A Automotive, which is about a block away.
"I was in the office, Condre was working on a car under the canopy and Joe was in the last bay,'' said Underwood, who said he grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran to the scene to help.
Croom said the motorcycle caught fire and he joined others in an effort to pull Young away from the fire.
"He was right next to the motorcycle and his pants leg was on fire,'' Croom said.
"We knew it was pretty bad when we pulled him away,'' Underwood added.
Croom said both passengers in the SUV quickly got out, but Mackey was still sitting in the driver's seat when he and others arrived at the scene.
"The lady was just sitting there and the back of the truck had caught on fire," Croom said. "We had to scream at her two or three times before she finally got out on the passenger side.''
Anderson said the woman was in shock.
"She got out and the next thing, it blew up," Anderson said. "It was crazy for a few minutes. It was just horrible.''
Authorities blocked off the section of Wood Avenue, from Garfield Avenue to Holt Avenue, as members of the Alabama Department of Public Safety's Crash Reconstruction Team investigated the scene.
Young is the fourth Florence police officer to die in the line of duty. Leo Glover, a former motorcycle officer, died May 23, 1974; Steve Ticer died May 13, 1988; and Doys Whitehead died June 20, 1991.
"May is not a good month for us,'' Singleton said.
Young is survived by a wife and two teenage children.
"David Young was one of a kind,'' said Killen police investigator Terry Holden, who previously worked with Young at Florence. "You couldn't help but like him, and everyone who knew David is better off for it.''
Funeral arrangements were not determined as of late-Thursday.
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops
About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.
The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.
The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.
MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops