The firefighter who died in a horrific 15-car pileup in Alabama alongside his 9-month-old daughter was remembered as “upbeat” and “always put his family first,” loved ones said — while the eight other children who died were from a local foster home.
Cody Fox, 29, who was fire chief at New Hope Volunteer Fire Department in Tennessee, was killed by the impact of the crash Saturday on a wet Interstate 65 about 35 miles south of Montgomery, the Butler County coroner said.
The wreck also claimed the lives of eight kids in a van from a youth home for abused or neglected children, authorities said. Their identities have not been released.
Fox’s brother, Blake, described the new dad as a dedicated family man.
“He was always ready to help anyone out. He always put his family first,” Fox’s brother, Blake, told news station WDEF.
Aaron Sanders, who worked with Fox at the Marion County Emergency Management Agency, remembered him as a “great guy” and said he always doted on his daughter, Ariana, who also was killed in the crash.
“He just loved her to death and that was his life,” Sanders said.
Marion County EMA also paid tribute to Fox in a Facebook post.
“Cody was an integral part of the EMA (Emergency Management Agency) staff in Marion County, always ready, always willing to serve,” the agency wrote.
“His upbeat attitude, his willingness to learn, and without a doubt the politest young man I have ever known, will be greatly missed.”
His fiancée, Hayle Anderson, was also in the car, but survived the crash, The Chattanoogan reported.
She remained over the weekend in the intensive care unit, according to the South Pittsburg Mountain Volunteer Fire Department in Tennessee.
The county coroner said the vehicles on the wet road Saturday likely hydroplaned as Tropical Depression Claudette swept through the region.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it has launched an investigation into the crash in coordination with the Alabama Highway Patrol.
With Post wires