Three North Carolina men dead after crash in Virginia

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MADISON COUNTY, Va. – Virginia State Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash that resulted in multiple fatalities

The Friday, August 18 crash occurred just north of Locust Dale Road (Route 614).

At 6:00 p.m., a 2016 GMC Yukon was traveling south on North James Madison Highway (Route 15) when it ran off the right side of the road way and collided with a tree.

The driver of the GMC, Norman V. Hoover, 74, of Bullock, North Carolina, died at the scene of the crash due to his injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt.

A passenger in the GMC, Stephen C. Satterwhite, 34, of Oxford, North Carolina died at the scene due to his injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

A second passenger, James M. Rathbone, 26, of Henderson, North Carolina, died at the scene of the crash due to his injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

A third passenger, Peyton Scott, 24, Oxford, North Carolina, suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries and was flown to UVA Medical Center for treatment. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

The investigation closed Route 15 for approximately 4 hours. VDOT assisted with the roadway closure and detour.

The Virginia State Police provide statewide law enforcement services and work in conjunction with local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. In major crash scenes and/or crash scenes involving fatalities, the Virginia State Police Accident Reconstruction Team assists troopers with incident investigation and documentation.

The actual cause of Friday’s crash has yet to be determined, and the incident remains under investigation.