Two separate crashes in Southwest Virginia end in fatalities

A Wirtz, West Virginia man was killed following a single vehicle crash on Interstate 81 in Wythe County.

A State Police report said Bruce Layman, 60, was northbound when his truck had a blowout two miles outside of Wytheville that caused the vehicle to go into the median then across the southbound lanes where it hit a guardrail and overturned down an embankment. The agency said Layman died at the scene, and the crash remains under investigation.

A passenger was killed and three people were injured when a SUV collided with a tractor-trailer on Grayson County’s Skyline Highway.

The early details shared by State Police say William Earp, 35, of Galax was headed north when traffic slowed down, causing Earp to hard break and slide the SUV into the 18-wheeler. A passenger, Jasmine Benbow, 34, also of Galax, was killed by the impact, while Earp, a juvenile passenger, and the rig driver required medical attention.

The VSP said charges are pending against Earp.