SUSSEX COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — A Roanoke man is dead following a single-vehicle crash in Sussex County Thursday afternoon, according to Virginia State Police, which said a criminal investigation is ongoing into the incident.
The crash happened in the 5200 block of General Mahone Highway west of Spring Branch Road around 1:45 p.m. and resulted in the death of Keith Michael Loback, 64, who was driving a 2020 Freightliner tractor-trailer with car parts and batteries.
While driving westbound on General Mahone Highway/Route 460, another unidentified commercial motor vehicle traveling in the eastbound lanes, lost its load cover — a detached canvas tarp with a metal frame — and stuck the driver’s side of the 2020 Freightliner tractor-trailer, according to State Police.
When the detached canvas tarp with metal frame hit the windshield, the driver became unconscious, and the Freightliner traveled out of the westbound lanes, crossed over the eastbound lanes and into the treeline, where it struck several trees, State Police said.
Virginia State Police is investigating the crash, and it is seeking the public’s help for any witnesses who may have seen, or know of this unidentified commercial vehicle. Anyone who has that information is asked to contact State Police at questions@vsp.virginia.gov or by calling 804-750-8789. With help from the Sussex County Sheriff’s Department, the driver of the unidentified suspect vehicle has been identified.
The road was completely shut down, but it reopened around 6 p.m.
