FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Virginia State Police are investigating two separate crashes that took place less than 16 hours apart in Franklin County, with each wreck resulting in the death of a 44-year-old man who was not wearing a seatbelt.
According to authorities, the first crash happened at approximately 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22.
A 2018 Hyundai Sonata was heading north on Route 116 — about two miles away from Route 122 — when it crossed the center line and collided with a 2019 Ford F-250 head-on, police say.
The driver of the Hyundai — identified by Virginia State Police as 44-year-old Jonathan Eric Lewis of Danville — was not wearing his seatbelt and was brought to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he later died.
There is no word on the condition of the person in the Ford.
Then, just before 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, officials say another crash took place at the intersection of Wades Gap Road and Dillon’s Mill Road.
Authorities tell WFXR News that a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling south on Dillon’s Mill Road, ran off the right side of the road, and hit an embankment.
Police say the driver of the Chevrolet — 44-year-old Jason Lynn Hicks of Boones Mill — was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene of the wreck.
Both of these deadly crashes are still under investigation as of this writing, according to Virginia State Police.
