Rockbridge County, VA —(BTW21) March 17, 2025 — Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash that occurred on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at approximately 6:57 p.m. on Glasgow Highway (Route 501) in Rockbridge County.
According to authorities, a 2007 Chevrolet 3500 pick-up truck, towing a trailer, was traveling northbound on Glasgow Highway when the truck veered off the right side of the road.
The vehicle struck an embankment before overturning. In the process, the trailer, which was carrying two cows, separated from the truck.
The trailer came to rest on the right side of the road, while the truck continued off the left side and crashed into a ditch.
Tragically, a passenger in the truck, 77-year-old Rodney F. Unrue of Monroe, VA, died at the scene.
It was reported that Unrue was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The driver of the truck, 81-year-old Douglas N. Layne, also of Monroe, VA, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained serious injuries. Like Unrue, Layne was not wearing a seatbelt.
In addition to the human casualties, the crash also involved the two cows in the trailer.
One of the cows died as a result of the crash, while the second cow had to be euthanized due to the extent of its injuries.
The crash remains under investigation by Virginia State Police.
Authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the crash and to understand the factors that contributed to the incident.
As the investigation continues, police are reminding drivers of the importance of wearing seatbelts, which could have potentially reduced the severity of injuries in this tragic incident.