A Smyth County school resource officer lost his life in a tragic crash early this morning on Interstate 81.
Earnest Atwell Jr., 60, of Atkins, was ejected from his vehicle and succumbed to his injuries. He served as an officer with the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office.
Virginia State Police are investigating the fatal single-vehicle accident, which occurred around 3:06 a.m. near the 45-mile marker on I-81 in Smyth County.
Atwell’s Ford F-150 was traveling northbound when it veered off the left side of the road, entered the median, and plunged down a steep, rocky embankment. The truck overturned before coming to rest in the median on the southbound side.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.