Two Drivers Die Following Separate Accidents

      Two accidents over the weekend resulted in fatalities on Rockbridge County roads.

The first, on Saturday evening, claimed the life of a local man, Nicholas Alexander Boardman, 29, of Buena Vista.

According to the Virginia State Police, Boardman was driving a 2004 Ford Explorer north on Big Spring Drive, Va. 631, three-tenths of a mile south of Jordan Road, Va. 733, when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a parked 1998 Ford Escort and then a tree, which caused the Explorer to overturn. The accident occurred at 6:10 p.m.

Boardman was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

The crash remains under investigation.

 The second crash, on Interstate 81, resulted in the death of a Virginia Beach woman Sunday night.

The two-vehicle crash occurred at 11:01 p.m. on I-81, southbound, 2.1 miles north of the Fairfield exit.

According to the Virginia State Police, a 2009 Nissan Versa ran off the right side of the roadway, struck the guardrail and came to rest blocking the southbound travel lanes.  The Nissan was then struck by a 2019 Freightliner tractor-trailer which was also traveling south on Interstate 81.

The Nissan was driven by Ashley Mason Rhodes, 37, Virginia Beach.  Rhodes was injured and transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she later died.

The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured.

No charges are pending.