A Mississippi man has been charged in a fatal crash that occurred on Interstate 81 in Botetourt County in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Feb. 8.
A Chevrolet passenger car was traveling south on Interstate 81, when the vehicle came through a Botetourt County sheriff deputy’s radar at 99 mph. The deputy activated his emergency equipment and attempted to stop the Chevrolet. The vehicle did not stop and continued south. The deputy discontinued attempting to overtake the vehicle when he lost site of the vehicle. As the deputy passed the 165-mile marker, a 911 call was received reporting a crash at the 168-mm entrance ramp on the southbound side. The Chevrolet, after exiting interstate at a high rate of speed and crossing the roadway, struck an illegally parked tractor-trailer on the entrance ramp. Witnesses to the crash pulled the occupants from the vehicle as the Chevrolet was burning.
The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office is handling the criminal investigation and the Virginia State Police was requested to perform the crash investigation. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team and the Virginia State Police Motor Carrier Team assisted with the crash.
The investigation identified the Chevrolet was driven by Errington F. Stenson, 27, of Gulfport, Miss., who was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
There were two passengers in the vehicle. Ronnie E. Rankins, Jr., 33 of Gulfport, Miss., was injured and flown by helicopter to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Gevante Dale Bolton, 28, of Beaumont, Miss., died at the scene.
On the morning of the crash, a Botetourt County deputy obtained a felony eluding charge on Stenson.
On February 21, Botetourt County detectives obtained a felony homicide warrant on
The United States Marshal’s Gulfport, Miss., Regional Task Force arrested Stenson on February 23, without incident. Stenson is awaiting extradition.
