According to the Roanoke County Police Department, preliminary autopsy results indicate that Richard Lawrence died from injuries sustained in the car accident.
The cause of the wreck is still under investigation.
Further autopsy results aren't expected for several weeks.
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UPDATED 9:55pm Sunday:
Roanoke County Police confirm the man who died in a crash on Route 311 Sunday is prominent Roanoke attorney, Richard Lawrence. He was 74 years old.
Investigators say all others involved in the wreck suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Here is the full press release from Roanoke County Police:
Roanoke County Police are investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred at approximately 5:50
p.m. today. The crash involved three vehicles and took the life of 74-year-old Richard Lawrence,
a prominent Roanoke area attorney. Lawrence was traveling south on Route 311 in the
northbound lane when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck the driver of a Trailblazer
head-on, near Dutch Oven Road. The driver of the Trailblazer, who has not yet been identified,
was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of a third vehicle (a
Suburban), who was traveling behind the Trailblazer, was also involved in the crash but did not
require transport to the hospital.
After Lawrence struck the Trailblazer, his vehicle (a Jeep) left the roadway and traveled down a
slight embankment. Lawrence was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is continuing
but, at this time, police do not believe alcohol and/or speed were factors in the crash.
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UPDATED, 9:00pm:
We're still waiting to find out what caused a deadly crash in Roanoke County Sunday evening.
One person died in the crash on Route 311, near Dutch Oven Road. That's near Catawba.
The crash happened just before 6:00pm. There were three cars involved, one of which went down a steep embankment. A man in the car died.
We spoke with a driver who witnessed the crash and tried to help. "I saw smoke coming across the road and a vehicle in the ditch," said Chris Howell. "I saw another in the center of the road. At that point, I got out, ran to the vehicle that was in the ditch and tried to help him."
Howell tells Your Hometown News Leader the man in that car was a white man, who looked to be in his 50's. Roanoke County Police haven't released his name yet.
"I just tried to do everything I can to help him get out safely," Howell says. "There was fluid, and a lot of smoke and steam."
Route 311 remains closed in both directions at this time.
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UPDATED, 7:00pm:
One person is dead following a crash in Roanoke County Sunday evening.
Roanoke County Police tell Your Hometown News Leader one person died in the three-car crash, which happened on Catawba Valley Road, near Dutch Oven Road.
Officers on scene tell our crews there is one vehicle down an embankment, which has a body in it.
Emergency crews say to expect major delays on Catawba Valley Road through late this evening.
We'll keep updating WDBJ7.com as soon as information becomes available.
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WDBJ7 has a crew on scene of a vehicle crash in Roanoke County.
The crash happened Catawba Valley Rd, near Dutch Oven Rd, at about 6:00pm Sunday.
No details yet on injuries, but VDOT has closed Catawba Valley Rd in both directions. Drivers should expect delays.
We'll keep updating this story with new information as soon as it becomes available.
