Officers mourn loss of a brother, friend

Friends and fellow law enforcement officers are remembering the life of Greene County deputy Chadwick “Chad” Alan Carr, killed in a collision with a tractor trailer on Route 230 near Greene Hills Country Club last Thursday.
Several who witnessed the accident scene say it was one of the worst crashes they ever recalled.  The fiery wreck shut down Route 230 near Dundee Road for several hours, and debris from the crash still could be spotted from portions of the golf course the next morning. 
Carr, 31, recently was promoted to investigations by the sheriff’s office and assigned as a narcotics enforcement officer to the Blue Ridge Narcotics Task Force.  Just six months ago, the department honored Carr with a Life Saving Award for administering CPR to a motorist following a traffic accident in 2008.
“Investigator Carr had a great love of law enforcement and will be missed by the members of this agency,“ said Greene County Sheriff Scott Haas.  “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Carr family, in particular Chad’s two young boys.“
  Carr’s commitment and work within the area of animal control is well known. Carr was a former board member of the Virginia Animal Control Association, a group that provides training for animal control agents.
“He leaves a tremendous legacy for both professionalism and a true passion for his profession in law enforcement,“ said Kevin Kilgore, president of the association. “He was a very bright young man. It was always his advocation that animal control should be a legitimate law enforcement profession.“
  The Greene deputy loved to help train others and taught at the association’s thirtieth anniversary training conference last year, said Kilgore. “He was a huge part of that event,“ he recalled.
Kilgore was driving back from Prince George, Va., when he got the call about his friend and colleague last Thursday. 
That afternoon, Carr was on duty and driving eastbound on Route 230 in an unmarked patrol car, a 2002 Pontiac Gran Prix. He veered off the right side of the roadway, according to state police.  Coming back onto the road, he crossed the centerline, swerving into the path of a westbound 2006 Freightliner tractor-trailer headed to Stanardsville. The truck crashed into the passenger’s side of Carr’s Pontiac. With the fierce impact, both vehicles caught fire and ended up in the ditch on the westbound side of Route 230.
The incident occurred just north of Route 619 (Dundee Road).
The tractor-trailer driver, Kent E. Eaton, 43, of Harrisonburg, was not injured in the crash and tried to assist Carr out of his vehicle, according to reports. He was hauling a truckload of ice when the crash occurred.
“We are thankful that the driver of the truck was not injured and in fact made a great effort to assist our deputy,“ said Haas.
As dozens worked at the scene to remove parts of the tractor trailer and labored among the charred debris, motorists were directed to use Route 609 (Fredericksburg Road), taking traffic west and south to Route 33, where they were routed back to Route 29.  Authorities re-closed Route 230 the next morning for crash reconstruction, said VDOT.
  As of Record press time on Tuesday, the crash remained under investigation. No charges have been announced in connection with the wreck, according to Virginia State Police Sgt. Les Tyler. Carr was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, but authorities declined to give any further details regarding the ongoing investigation, including a possible cause.
Both Stanardsville and Ruckersville volunteer fire departments responded to Thursday’s fatal crash.
“It was one of the worst wrecks I’ve seen in my 16 years in the department,“ said Stanardsville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jason Tooley. “We are sorry for the loss and we’re here to support the Sheriff’s office in whatever they need.“
Neighboring localities—including Madison, Orange and Albemarle,  plus the Virginia State Police—are reportedly assisting with road patrol while the department deals with the tragic loss of its officer and prepares to attend Carr’s funeral.
Carr grew up in Northumberland County, a small waterfront area of Northern Neck where the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay meet. The area, largely a retirement community with many waterfront and weekend cottages, has about 13,000 residents. 
  Funeral services will be held there on Friday, June 12, at the Currie Funeral Home, Kilmarnock, where much of Carr’s family lives. Interment will be in Wicomico United Methodist Church Cemetery, Wicomico Church, Va., with full honors.
Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkins knew Carr as a child and taught both Carr and his sisters back in elementary school.  Even as a child, Wilkins said in an interview this week, Carr showed a budding interest in law enforcement, complete with the “assertive” and “outgoing” personality to go with it. 
Asked if he was shy as a child, Wilkins managed a quiet laugh.  “Quite the opposite,“ he said. In high school, “he was a very athletic person,“ said Wilkins. “Wrestling, soccer, football—he loved sports.“
He continued: “He was very confident as a child, and it carried over into his career. He always had a lot of questions and was inquisitive about things. I think he had his eye set on law enforcement even then.“
Carr began his career in January 2002 with Northumberland County as a part-time animal control officer. The department sent him to Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy in Fredericksburg.  The next year, he moved to Orange County, excited to begin an available position in animal control there.
“He was chomping at the bit to get involved, so he jumped on the full time job in Orange,“ said Wilkins, recalling Carr’s go-getter spirit.  “He did a good job with us. I actually had to hold him back because he wanted to do too much too quickly.“
Carr worked in Orange County from March 2003 until January 2008, first with animal control, next as a road deputy, and then as a canine officer.
He joined the Greene County Sheriff’s Office in March 2008.
Wilkins said this week that his department was working very closely with Greene County to help with accommodations for the funeral and other arrangements.
He said Carr will be greatly missed.
“There’s a certain (quality) it takes to get in law enforcement, and (Chad) had it,“ said Wilkins. “He was very assertive, and he really enjoyed his job. He had really found his niche in Greene County.“
Carr was the father of two young boys, ages seven and three. The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is establishing a fund for the children. Donations may be made at Bank of America locally or sent to:  The Chadwick Carr Memorial Fund, c/o Chesapeake Bank, P. O. Box 1419, Kilmarnock, VA 22482.