The rookie firefighter killed in a car crash April 6 had more than four times the legal limit of alcohol in his system, according to toxicology results.
Tanner Rundle, 26, had a 0.322 blood-alcohol level, the results show. In Arkansas, driving with a 0.08 blood-alcohol content or more is illegal. Toxicology results were received by the Benton County coroner's office at the end of last week and were released to the Herald-Leader on Monday. Results were included in the report from the coroner's office.
"We remain saddened by the loss of Tanner Rundle," public safety director Greg Neely said in a written statement released by Holland Hayden, city communications manager. "While this news is disturbing, we have still lost a member and a grieving family has still lost their son. Tanner's death remains untimely and no less tragic as a result of these findings. If we are to learn anything from this loss, I would hope that we would all heighten our awareness to the hazards of any form of inattentive or impaired driving. My further hope would be that we would put an arm around our family members and remind them how much we care about them. You can be here one moment and gone the next. We continue to pray for Tanner's family."
According to the coroner's report, causes of death were blunt head trauma and motor vehicle crash. Manner of death was accident. Alcohol intoxication was listed as a significant condition.
The coroner's report shows that the scene was altered by the Siloam Springs Fire Department. Alcohol containers and the body were moved before the coroner arrived.
"The fire department did nothing outside of what would be considered reasonable and customary," Neely said in the statement. "Crews removed the body in full view of the state police. This is done often, in order to remove the body from public view and get the scene restored while waiting for the coroner. Additionally, crews noticed and reported an open beer can between the legs of the driver."
At the scene, Coroner Daniel Oxford asked Cpl. George Enke of Arkansas State Police who gave permission to remove the body before the coroner's arrival, according to the report. "Trooper Enke stated that the fire department made the request to extricate him from the car, and he gave the OK, without thinking."
Oxford also asked if Enke had any photos before the body was moved. Enke said he didn't take any pictures of the body in the car or on the scene.
"We were unable to obtain any virgin scene photos," the coroner's report states.
Oxford requested deputy coroner Vester Cripps speak with the fire department "about not altering a scene unless life-saving measures were taking place," according to the report. Cripps later told Oxford that the fire department removed the body at Enke's request. "They also told Cripps that they removed an open 'tall boy' container from between Mr. Rundle's legs prior to extrication."
In a phone call with Enke, Oxford asked if he knew about the open container. Enke said it was mentioned to him and that he saw some empty containers in and around the car. Oxford also asked about the use of a seat belt. "Trooper Enke stated that the fire department said that Mr. Rundle was wearing his seat belt."
In his report, Oxford "did not note any trauma associated with seat belt trauma."
On April 8, Cripps contacted Oxford about a request from the fire chief to classify the death as a line of duty death. Oxford said that would require an autopsy. An autopsy was not performed. The family did not wish to pursue it, Oxford said.
Fire department staff had discussed whether the death might qualify as a line of duty death, Neely said in the statement from the city.
"This was due to the fact that Tanner was en-route to a training mission and would not have been on the road otherwise," Neely said. "Staff explored and conveyed to the family the requirements to receive LODD benefits. Administratively, the fire department did all that it could to provide a level of dignity to their deceased member, and allow the family to determine what level of benefits, if any, they chose to pursue based upon the still pending toxicology results."
At 1:55 p.m. April 6, Rundle was driving west on U.S. Highway 412 in a 2006 Mazda 6 when the vehicle crashed into a 2013 Kenworth semitrailer, driven by Ray Townley, 50, of Alma. The crash happened at U.S. Highway 412 and Fairmount Road, about two miles east of the city.
Rundle was on his way to Siloam Springs to meet two other firefighters who were taking a city vehicle to carpool to the fire academy in Camden.
Rundle, of Fayetteville, had recently moved from Austin, Texas, to work for the Siloam Springs Fire Department. He was one of three firefighters hired Feb. 18.
Rundle's funeral was April 12 at Christian Life Cathedral in Fayetteville.
General News on 06/11/2014