A longstanding National Park Service employee and his wife have died in a tragic car crash after their vehicle hit a tree limb.
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According to a news release by the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway dispatchers responded to reports of a car accident on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred in Nelson County, Virginia, just after midday. First responders and park rangers discovered that a car had hit a large tree. Officials pronounced both of the vehicle occupants dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the driver as Troy Hagwood, 62. He was an employee of the National Park Service, a position he had held for 16 years. Hagwood was reportedly off-duty at the time. His wife, Cheryl Hagwood, 60, also died in the crash.
The Couple's Car Caught Fire After The Crash
The National Park Service explains that the couple from Stuarts Draft was heading northbound when their vehicle hit a tree limb. The impact caused the car to 'leave the roadway' and struck a large tree by the side of the road. The couple's car then reportedly caught fire. The Parkway was closed for a short time while Emergency Services put out the flames.
No more details are given in the release. It's unclear if any animals or vehicles were involved or why the couple couldn't escape the vehicle.
Per
his Facebook page, Troy Hagwood had served in the US Army. Nate Shaw, who had previously worked with Hagwood, posted a tribute on the platform. He describes Troy as a "mountain man" and "A gentle giant who you dared not cross." He also said he only met Cheryl briefly, but "she put a sparkle in his eyes, and they were inseparable.""I will never hear "mountain man" and not think of him," Shaw says. "I'm not kidding when I say he's the type of guy you're just drawn to. A true character with charisma to spare. No matter what was going on, you could always count on that smile eventually shining through with some whimsical story about the adventures he would find."
Shaw's tribute has garnered hundreds of reactions, with comments praying that the couple rests in peace.
