Charlotte Co., VA - A Charlotte County community is dealing with the death of an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter. He died in a car crash Sunday morning, while being chased by a deputy.

People in Wylliesburg still have plenty of unanswered questions. Most notably, why did he run from the cops and why didn't the deputy call off the dangerous high-speed pursuit.

Wylliesburg volunteer firefighters spent the day cleaning their fire engine. It was Colton Covington's favorite. All the guys called him Spud. The engine will be used Tuesday at his funeral. It was the same one used at his fatal wreck.

Volunteer firefighter Matthew Lamotte said, "You just think how could I have done things differently, how could I have got there faster and done what I could've done but you realize there's nothing more you can do."

Deputies say Covington was killed instantly when his truck flipped several times. They say he refused to stop after being spotted speeding next to another vehicle. It's still under investigation so the Sheriff's Office won't discuss the case. We found several beer bottles in the wreckage. Friends are still stunned.

John Osborne, Covington’s friend, said, "He was a well-known guy and everybody liked him, he never run across a face that he couldn't make smile."

Many in the area want to know why the deputy didn't back off.  "Those hours of the morning, you know back roads being chased, it's not, I don't think it's all good," Osbourne said.

"He's really going to be missed around here and it hurts bad to see that one of your fallen brothers done fell down and you've got to go get him," Lamotte said.

Charlotte County investigators say they have identified the driver of the second vehicle and he will be charged with reckless driving and eluding. His identity is being withheld until he's picked up. Colton Covington's funeral is on Tuesday morning.

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