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Officer Down: Deputy Sheriff William K. Chadwell

Age: 70

Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

Deputy William Chadwell was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while attempting to clear a fallen tree from Stout Road, in Washington Township.

He was off duty, en route to a private residence when he came upon the tree. He reported into dispatch and requested assistance from on duty deputies to remove it. As he waited for the other deputies to arrive, a vehicle struck the tree, knocking it into Deputy Chadwell.

Deputy Chadwell was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

Ohio deputy dies clearing tree from road

By Tim Doulin
Columbus Dispatch

PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — A Pickaway County deputy sheriff was killed last night while trying to move a tree off a road in Washington Township, the sheriff's office said.

Deputy William K. Chadwell, 70, was pronounced dead at 6:54 p.m. at Berger Hospital in Circleville.

Chadwell had come upon the tree on Stout Road and had called for assistance.

A Toyota Camry traveling west about 5:30 p.m. struck the tree, pushing it into the deputy.

The sheriff's office identified the Camry driver as Tracey L. Fowler, 41, of Circleville.

Pickaway County Sheriff Dwight E. Radcliff told WBNS-TV (Channel 10) that there was no indication that the driver did anything wrong.

"People like (Chadwell) are very hard to find," Radcliff told the television station. "His dedication, his loyalty, his loyalty to this office, his loyalty to me, (it is) really just a tremendous loss."

Copyright 2008 Columbus Dispatch