Police Officer Joseph Seawell Gunnell

Joseph Seawell Gunnell

Officer Joseph Gunnell was killed in an automobile accident while he and another officer responded to reports of two men sleeping in the roadway.

As the officers came upon the scene, the other officer failed to see the men in the roadway until the last moment and swerved to avoid striking them.

The vehicle went down an embankment and into a ditch. Officer Gunnell suffered fatal injuries in the accident.

Officer Gunnell had served with the West Columbia Police Department for 3 years. He was survived by his wife and young daughter.