Posted on 07/13/2007 9:26:14 AM PDT by real saxophonist
Fatal Accident in Brookfield
A local man, best known within the law enforcement community as a world renowned firearms instructor, is dead after a tractor trailer slammed into his car.
The accident happened in the Madison County Hamlet of West Edmeston at the intersection of Welch Road and Route 8 in the town of Brookfield.
Police say that James Cirillo of West Edmeston turned onto Route 8 and right into the path of a tractor trailer.
Cirillo died at the scene, and the driver of the big rig was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica for back injuries.
Authorities are continuing their investigation they're expected back at the scene later this morning for accident reconstruction.
ping
—sad—just saw an article indicating he had macular degeneration—
July 13, 2007
By Jennifer Fusco
BROOKFIELD — A well-known gun expert and author was killed and another man injured in a tractor-trailer-car collision Thursday night, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
James Cirillo, 76, of West Edmeston, was driving west on Welsh Road around 7 p.m. when his vehicle entered Route 8 into the path of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer driven by Christopher Madison, 36, of Richardson Avenue in Utica, deputies said.
The tractor-trailer struck Cirillo’s vehicle on the driver’s side, deputies said.
Cirillo died at the scene. Madison was treated for back injuries at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, deputies said.
Cirillo taught numerous firearm classes and wrote several books, including “Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights: Lessons and Tales From a Modern-Day Gunfighter.” He also had several videos.
Violet Jimenez, Cirillo’s partner of nine years who lived with him in West Edmeston, said he was a renowned firearms instructor and a retired New York City police officer.
“If you check the Internet, you’ll find everything about him,” she said. “He was a very humorous man and loved his hunting and fishing. He was just a very vibrant person.”
According to Amazon.com, Cirillo spent many years with the New York City Police Stakeout Unit and participated in more than 250 armed encounters. He also spent years as a firearms instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Since retiring from law enforcement, Cirillo has conducted periodic firearms training courses, the site states.
Witnesses to the accident told deputies that Cirillo’s car appeared to enter Route 8 to possibly make a U-turn. He apparently did not realize the tractor-trailer was rounding a curve near the intersection, deputies said.
Guide rails prevented both vehicles from going over a steep embankment, deputies said.
Deputies, along with the Sheriff’s Office accident reconstruction team and evidence specialists, are continuing their investigation today.
No charges have been filed against Madison, deputies said.
http://www.uticaod.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070713/NEWS/70713003
Godspeed to a man who “Saw the elephant”
The poor man. Prayers.
RIP.
Good God, I know the man, from years ago. Just damn!
Jeff Cooper dies last year and now this? We’re losing some real heroes. Prayers for the family.
I have nice memories of some extended conversations over the year with this fine guy, and great story teller.
His books have the stories, but he loved telling them so much, he’d be happy to bend your ear to tell them again for the 1000th time.
Godspeed, Jim.
Ya cheat death yer whole life and then ya get it in an automobile accident.
Dang.........
Far better a head-on 18 wheeler, than an oxygen machine in an old folks home.
In dealing, currently, with the slow decline of my mother's health, and the insane bureaucracy of our health care system, I couldn't agree more.
Amen bro. Been there.
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