Fred Dileo of Climax was killed when his pickup was struck by a semi about noon on Tuesday. Mr Dileo was waiting to enter Spring Creek Road when the semi crossed the opposing lane and struck his truck.
About 3 miles south of John Sam Road, a JLC semi was heading south on Spring Creek Road. Brandon Whittaker, owner of Tractor Work, was heading north. He stated that all of a sudden the semi crossed the opposing lane of traffic, passing only about 25 feet in front of him.
Mr Dileo's pickup, pulling a horse trailer, was waiting to enter the Spring Creek Road from a driveway. Brandon Whittaker stated the semi struck the truck with such force the front of the pickup was sheared from the chassis, flew 15 to 20 feet in the air, and landed some 50 feet away.
Mr Whittaker jumped out to assist the pickup driver, but it appeared he had died upon impact. He then ran to the semi. Brandon Whittaker and Kenneth West found the driver dazed with a fire beginning in the engine area and helped the driver out of the cab.
The driver told them that he had coughed and then just blacked out. He stated the next thing he knew was that he had been in an accident. The driver was unaware of the extent of the crash.
Mr Whittaker and West advised him to lay still until EMS arrived because he was complaining of a back injury. The semi driver sustained non life threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital.
Fred Dileo of Climax was a renowned dog handler named 2006-07 Purina Handler Of The Year. Mr Dileo handled Funseeker’s Rebel which won the 2007 National Championship for Field Trialing Bird Dogs at Ames Plantation in February.
Picture from AmesPlantation.org
