Parkway crash leads to Roanoke County officer crash

Roanoke County Police say a short chase on the Blue Ridge Parkway early Wednesday morning led to two crashes, and a one person fighting for their life.

Investigators say Sergeant K. Schirmer was patrolling near mile marker 111 around 1:20 a.m., when a Honda Civic passed him at what police describe as a “high rate of speed.“

Officers tell us Sergeant Schirmer turned, and chased after the Civic.  He found the Civic about two miles later, in the middle of the road.  Sergeant Schirmer swerved to avoid the Honda, ran off the side of the road, and hit a ditch.

Sergeant Schirmer found the driver of the Civic had been thrown from the car, and landed on the shoulder of the road.

EMTs took the Honda’s driver to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with life threatening injuries.  The crash is still under investigation.