By Tripp Girardeau
Aiken Standard
GRANITEVILLE, S.C. — Friends of local firefighter and former officer Phillip “Eddie” Turner honored their fallen brother after he was tragically killed in a traffic accident.
Turner, of Graniteville, was a firefighter with the Sage Mill Fire Department and a former officer with North Augusta Department of Public Safety.
He was on his way to the Sage Mill firehouse around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, when he attempted to pass two cars on Bettis Academy Road and ran into the rear of a freightliner that had stopped to make a left turn onto the I-20 West ramp, according to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.
He was 59 years old.
Local resident Eddie Buck said he knew Turner for more than 30 years.
“(Turner) was a well-known umpire for local baseball games and a football official at times,” Buck said. “He was a really good guy. He had his hands in everything around Aiken County.”
Support 1, a local nonprofit supporting emergency first responders in the area, posted on its Facebook page, “With sadness, we want to express our condolences to firefighter Phillip “Eddie” Turner’s family and friends during this tragic time – We will miss you bud, and want to say thank you for supporting us. R.I.P, brother!”
Many of the local fire departments around Aiken County also shared thoughts about Turner.
The Windsor Fire Department posted on its Facebook page, “Praying for our brother Eddie Turner, his family and all the firefighters at Sage Mill.”
The Montomorenci Volunteer Fire Department posted, “A loss of one is a loss to us all.”
The Jackson Volunteer Fire Department posted, “Our hearts are saddened today by the loss of a legend of the fire service in Aiken County. Most of us that started in the fire service over the past 20 or more years have had the pleasure of having Eddie Turner teach one of our courses. He was a great instructor, a great mentor, and an overall great man.”
Arrangements for Turner’s funeral have not been announced as of Monday afternoon.
Copyright 2017 the Aiken Standard