Heather Bell
BLACKSBURG – The driver of a Norfolk and Southern work truck died Wednesday after a two vehicle crash in Blacksburg.
At approximately 8:26 a.m.on Wednesday, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office “responded to a crash involving a Norfolk and Southern work truck and a Ford SUV in the 900 block of Jennelle Road near the intersection with Cedar Run Road,” according to a statement from Lt. Brian Wright of the sheriff’s office.
The driver of the N and S work truck, 40-year-old Keith E. Whited of Castlewood, VA, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford SUV, Alexander S.
Zuchowicz of Blacksburg, was transported to Montgomery Regional Hospital
with “what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries,”according to Wright
The Blacksburg Fire Department, Blacksburg Rescue Squad, and Blacksburg Police Department also responded to the scene. A hazmat response was required due to a diesel fuel spill from Whited’s truck.
“Blacksburg Fire Department, Christiansburg Fire Department, and Roanoke Valley Regional Hazardous Materials team were on scene due to the N&S work vehicle fire and an associated diesel fuel spill from a tank on the truck,” according to the Sheriff department’s statement.
“Based upon the preliminary investigation it appears that the driver of the N and S truck left the right side of the roadway and over-corrected while trying to maintain control of the vehicle,” Wright said Thursday. “He then crossed the center line into on‐coming traffic where he struck the Ford SUV in the side causing both vehicles to overturn. Diesel fuel spilled from the tank of the N and S truck resulting in the vehicle catching fire.”
Traffic along Jennelle Road was detoured Wednesday due to the incident.
