Virginia deputy killed in on-duty accident was infantry vet, ran popular Police Fitness social pages

A Virginia deputy belonging to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office was killed in a crash on late Thursday night.

Deputy Curtis A. Bartlett was killed after his patrol car made contact with a tractor-trailer while attempting to assist Virginia State Police with a high-speed pursuit.

“A Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy was responding to assist a fellow Sheriff’s Deputy and Virginia State Police trooper with an ongoing pursuit in Carroll County. The Sheriff’s Deputy was traveling west on Route 58 with emergency lights and sirens activated when it collided with a tractor-trailer making a left turn onto Route 58 from the Interstate 77 Exit 14 ramp,” the Virginia State Police said in a press release this morning. “The tractor-trailer had the green light and was only traveling approximately 25 mph. The Deputy’s vehicle was unable to avoid the tractor-trailer and struck the rear tandem. The Sheriff’s Deputy died at the scene.”

The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 59-year-old male, was uninjured.

The Virginia State Police are currently investigating the crash as well as the pursuit that indirectly led to the death of one of Carroll County’s finest.

“The pursuit was initiated by a Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy at approximately 9:50 p.m., along Route 58 near I-77 Exit 14,” the State Police said. “The suspect vehicle went through a field and then the driver and passenger fled on foot. Within minutes both suspects were in custody– one was apprehended by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy and the other taken into custody by a Virginia State Police Trooper assisting with the pursuit.”

Sheriff JB Gardner gave an emotional report after discovering that Bartlett -who had been a deputy since 2013- was dead.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that I must announce the death of Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy Curtis Allen Bartlett. Deputy Bartlett, 32, did not survive the line-of-duty crash he was involved in late Thursday evening, March 9, 2017,” Gardner said.

Gardner said that Bartlett -who served in the United States Army Infantry from 2004 to 2007- was highly respected by his peers and had a passion for his duties. In addition to his military service, Bartlett was a K9 handler and a fitness trainer with a successful business.

“Having become a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, Curtis was recognized for his commitment to health, nutrition and fitness, and strived to motivate others within our Sheriff’s Office and other agencies to work towards healthier lifestyles,” Gardner said. “He was also an accomplished pilot and in 2013 was recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for achieving FAA Airmen Certification.”

In fact, Bartlett has posted to his fitness page mere hours before his death. Bartlett had over 100,000 followers on his social media pages, including Instagram.

According to Mount Airy News, Sheriff Gardner said that funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

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