Staff report
SPENCER ó A Salisbury man died after his SUV rear-ended a firetruck in Spencer early Friday.
Willis “Bud” Shellhorn, 75, of 130 Stratford Place, died at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where he was airlifted following the accident, which happened about 3:30 a.m.
According to law enforcement officers, Shellhorn apparently suffered a stroke or similar medical condition prior to the accident.
Spencer Police Chief Robert Bennett said officers and firefighters were at the scene of a chimney fire when a 1997 Jeep Cherokee driven by Shellhorn ran over a road sign before slamming into the back of the stopped firetruck.
The truck had its emergency lights engaged.
Bennett said Shellhorn didn’t touch his brakes before running into the truck.
“It was apparent to the officers that he had some sort of seizure,” Bennett said.
The truck that was hit belongs to the Ellis Crossroads Fire Department. Ellis Crossroads firefighters were responding to the call as part of a mutual aid agreement with the Spencer Fire Department.
The chimney fire was reported at a house in the 1100 block of Spencer Avenue.
Friends of the Shellhorn family said he was looking for a dog that had gotten loose.
Shellhorn was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center after being transported to Rowan Regional Medical Center.