Two people died last week after separate accidents on area roads, including a local man.
Donnie Coleman Sr. of Buena Vista died Friday in a Roanoke hospital after being involved in a three-vehicle crash last Monday in Buena Vista. Police say the accident resulted from a driver, now facing DUI and other charges, running through a stop sign.
According to a press release from the Buena Vista Police Department, officers were dispatched to the intersection of 22nd Street and Maple Avenue on a report of a vehicle accident involving three vehicles on March 10.
Upon arrival, officers observed multiple vehicles in the intersection with varying degrees of damage. The driver of one vehicle, later identified as Coleman, was taken by emergency medical services to Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident. A female passenger in the vehicle with Coleman was also transported for treatment of her injuries sustained in the accident.
Police say the preliminary investigation at the scene revealed that the driver of the second vehicle involved, a black Kia, had fled the scene on foot after the car he was driving ran through a stop sign at the intersection and collided with the vehicle driven by Coleman.
Officers were able to find the individual seen fleeing from the scene of the crash and positively identify him as the driver of the black Kia at the time of crash, Jason Esque of Buena Vista. Officers took him into custody at the time and he too was transported to Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital for treatment of injuries.
Esque was charged with three felonies: two counts of maiming (DUI related) and one count of fleeing the scene of an accident. He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated, driving on a revoked license and reckless driving, and received a summons for failing to stop or yield when entering a highway.
On Friday, officers of the Buena Vista Police Department were notified by officials at the Office of the Medical Examiner that Coleman had died, and his body would be transferred to that office for an autopsy.
This case is still under active investigation and police officers are working with the Buena Vista commonwealth’s attorney’s office. Anyone who has any information about this event is asked to call the police department at (540) 261-6174 at any time and speak with an officer. -A Monroe man, meanwhile, was killed in a single-vehicle wreck on Glasgow Highway (U.S. 501) last Thursday evening.
According to the Virginia State Police, a 2007 Chevrolet 3500 pickup truck, towing a cattle trailer, was heading northbound on Glasgow Highway when the truck went off of the right side of the road, struck an embankment, and then overturned. At this point, the trailer, carrying two cows, separated, and the trailer remained on the right side of the road while the truck went off the left side of the road and into a ditch. The accident occurred at 6:57 p.m.
The passenger in the truck, Rodney F. Unrue, 77, of Monroe, died at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt.
The driver of the truck, Douglas N. Layne, 81, of Monroe, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries. Layne was also not wearing a seatbelt.
One of the animals died as a result of the crash. The second cow had to be euthanized.
The crash remains under investigation.
According to Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue, traffic was backed up due to the extended road closure for approximately three hours. Some vehicles turned around and detoured.
Departments that responded to the accident include Glasgow Fire Department, Glasgow Life Saving Crew, Lexington Fire Department, Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue, Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
It’s spring cleanup time and citizens are asked to meet at the ball field this Saturday at 9 a.m. Wear good walking shoes, bring water for hydration, and a grabber if you have one. Vests and bags provided.
Donald and Natalie Harris took a little trip to Key West last week to celebrate their anniversary.
The town of Glasgow has purchased the building and lots across the street from town hall. The building was once home of the post office, and library. The Masons use one side of the building and will continue to do so. When renovations are complete, the Council meetings will be held there. Other town-related organizations will also use it. They plan to have a flea market in the empty lots.
