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 Dyersburg Fire Chief Bob Veal talks with Dyersburg and Halls firefighters as a Tennessee Highway Patrol investigator checks the crushed cab for evidence. White foam covers the gasoline spilled during the accident. |
The Tennessee Highway Patrol confirmed Robert Dugger, 47, of 2516 Troy Hickman Rd., was the driver of a Union City Oil Co. gasoline delivery truck that wrecked about 7 a.m. Monday near the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Gates Road.
A Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatcher said the accident investigation is under way and should be completed in the next two weeks.
Dugger is reported to have attempted to miss a vehicle that had run the stop sign on Gates Road, which crosses Highway 51 about three miles south of Halls.
Both north- and south-bound lanes of the highway were closed from the time of the accident until the northbound lanes were re-opened at 4:25 p.m. The southbound lanes were opened again at 5 p.m.
The tanker evidently was northbound when Dugger took evasive action. The semi skidded across the Gates Road pavement in the median and fell over on its side in the south lawn of the Gates Church of God Holiness, 8225 U.S. Highway 51.
Tennessee Department of Transportation crews built dirt blocks on the southbound shoulder to prevent the tanker’s estimated 9,500 gallons of gasoline from mixing with rainfall and harming a nearby creek.
The Dyersburg Fire Department was alerted at 8 a.m. by the THP, which was seeking a foam delivery to coat the gasoline that had spilled. The DFD’s hazardous materials team worked with the contracted recovery crew to eliminate the spill threat.
Another 4,000 gallons that remained in the tank was pumped into other gasoline tank trucks.
A Union City wrecker retrieved the semi about 4 p.m.
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Norman and I are so sorry for your loss. We loved Steve and we will miss him.I met Steve when he worked with Norman. I thought he was the funniest thing he always made us laugh.Our thoughts and prayers will be with all of you.
Lisa and I want to express our sincere sorrow to the Dugger family for your loss. We feel we have lost also, for Steve was one that we could count on as a True Friend. He will be deeply missed by Family and Friends. God Bless You!Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kent & Lisa
Ronnie and I would like express our sincere sympathy to the Dugger family. Ronnie ran with Steve alot. He drives a tanker truck also. He thought of alot of him,he said you couldn't ask for a better friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ronnie & Pat
Actions speak louder than words.Yesterday Steve spoke volumes.He chose to bow out instead of taking the chance of endangering someone else.The action he took was a testament to just what kind of person Steve Dugger was, and will forever be remembered as.He will forever be missed. May God be with Ricky,the rest of his family,and everyone else that he made smile.
Thanks everyone for your concerns. We, Steve's family all greatly appreciate all the thoughts and prayers everyone has given in regards to Steve. Thank everyone for everything. We will surely miss him. He would do anything for anyone all it took was a simple request and he would be there for anyone.
The Dugger family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind words, expressions of sympathy, the prayers and outpouring of love during this, the most painful thing my family has ever experienced. My brother-in-law called me yesterday and told me "You don't have to wear a uniform to be a hero. To me, Steve was a hero, because he gave his life to save all those children on that bus." He also quoted John 15:13 to me and it is as follows: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Stevie did that! He gave his life to save the lives of those precious children. He loved all children and they loved him in return. BRO, WE LOVE YOU AND YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!
I only knew Steve a few years, but that was enough to tell he was a good God fearing man. We will all miss him, but can be comforted in knowing we will see him again with Jesus. My prayers are with his family & friends .....
Ted Blackwell
There are no words that express the pain my heart feels because of devastating loss we have experienced. Steve was a good man and a wonderful friend. To Steve it didn't matter if you saw him daily or just occasionally once you were a friend you were a friend for life. He gave more than anyone knew. There was so much kindness in his heart it was amazing. Kathy is a beautiful person herself. I feel blessed by God to call them both friend. I am so thankful God gave us memories.........that way Steve can be with us all forever. Forever making us smile.
Mrs Kathy,Craig, Kim, your husband and dad was a very good man. You could look all over and not find another man as good as Mr Steve. Words cannot express the pain that I feel in my heart for you all. Craig and Kim I lost my dad in 97, he was my best friend.
The pain never goes away but it does get better. We will miss Mr Steve, his smile and his grunt laugh. We will see him again one day. I love you all, my prayers are with you.
Steve has been a good friend of mine for years.The first time I ever flew in a airplane was with Steve he was a good friend to me over the years always laughing and was never sad.My heart goes out to his family and children.I was at the church today and I've never seen a funeral like this before but Steve was loved by everyone and that was the kind of man he was when a friend was in need he was always there.He will be missed with great sorrow.God bless Ricky and his family,Steves wife and children, and mom and dad,and brothers and sisters my thoughts are with yal. I will miss him so much. Thinking of Steve, Laurie B