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Head-on collision

by Wanda Combs
Editor

A two-vehicle collision on Route 8 in Floyd County Thursday night sent five people to the hospital. Michael J. Herring, one of the drivers, was flown by medical helicopter to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in good condition this week. A mother and three children were transported by ambulance to a local hospital and have since been released.
The wreck occurred at 5:15 p.m. near Route 8’s intersection with Route 750. According to State Trooper Andrew O’Connor a vehicle traveling south on Route 8 was stopped to turn into the greenboxes. Another vehicle was stopped behind that one. A third vehicle, driven by Heather Nicole Chaffin of Floyd, came up behind them. Chaffin “couldn’t stop,” and her F350 pick-up went into the northbound lane and struck a 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass, driven by Herring, a Fairlawn resident, head on.
Rescue and fire personnel responded and used the jaws of life to remove Herring from his car. Emergency workers prepared a nearby field as a landing zone for LifeGuard, and he was airlifted to the hospital.