Colbert County Coroner Carlton Utley was killed today in a traffic accident in downtown Florence near the University of North Alabama campus.

Police announced earlier today they were investigating a traffic fatality in the area of North Court Street. Officials later identified 39-year-old Utley as the victim.

"We're very sad this happened and ask for prayers for his family and all the EMS workers," Deputy Coroner Jennifer Rutland told AL.com. "He was a wonderful person. He would give you the shirt off his back and do anything for you."

A family member of Utley's was pulling a utility trailer behind a truck in which the victim was a passenger, police said. When Utley got out of the vehicle at Court and Tombigbee streets, the family member thought Utley had cleared the area. But as the driver pulled away, Utley's body was dragged behind the vehicle.

The vehicle was near Seminary and Irvine streets when someone flagged the driver down because something appeared to be dragging under the trailer, AL.com news partner WHNT-19 reported. When the driver looked underneath, he found Utley's body, according to WHNT.

Utley was the coroner in Colbert County, which is a neighbor of Lauderdale County. Florence is the seat of Lauderdale County. Utley first ran for coroner in 2006. He also has worked as an EMT in Colbert and Lawrence Counties.

Amy Rickard, an EMT with Keller Ambulance Service, has known Utley for more than two decades.

"He was like my brother," she said.

Rickard praised Utley's years of service to the community. But, most important to Utley, Rickard said, was his family.

"His kids came first," Rickard said. "He loved his family. After them came his fire and EMS family."

Rultand said Utley's service to the community as an emergency worker began in the early '90's.

"In high school, we took a health occupations class together in 1992," said Rutland, who also is an EMT at Cherokee's Rescue Squad. "Since then, he's been working in EMS."

Utley leaves behind a wife and three children.