Driver And Passenger Die When Car Plunges Off Parkway
Blowing Rock Fire And Rescue Resond To Call Near Milepost 290 North Of Thunder Hill

Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue were called to Milepost 290 on the Blue Ridge Parkway early Monday morning to investigate a reported automobile accident just north of Thunder Hill overlook.
Upon arrival they located the mangled automobile in a wooded area between the Parkway and a private road several hundred yards below the scenic drive.
After working their way to the wrecked vehicle they discovered two men in the car, both apparently victims of the crash. Both were deceased.
After securing the area the scene of the wreck was turned over to Park Rangers who are continuing the investigation into the incident. Initial reports concluded that the car left the Parkway sometime prior to 6:30 a.m. and wasn’t reported until a resident of the area driving along Strawberry Path Road in the Huckleberry Development noticed the car in the woods and called authorities.
The victims were identified as Richard Lee Hodges, Jr. age 59 and Carl Ray Fain, age 56, both of Patrick County, Virginia. The car in which they died was a Lincoln Towncar.
The car, say officials, plunged over a 200-foot embankment off the Blue Ridge Parkway and was wedged between two trees just short of Strawberry Path Road.
Parkway officials, working with other agencies, are continuing their investigation of the accident.