CARROLL COUNTY (WSLS10)-- State Police say Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy has died after a tractor-trailer crash on US-58 near the Interstate 77 on-ramp. The crash happened just after 10 p.m. Thursday night.
Investigators say a Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy, 32-year-old Curtis Bartlett, was responding to an ongoing pursuit-- traveling on Route 58 with emergency lights and sirens activated when he collided with a tractor-trailer. The tractor trailer had a green light and was turning onto Rt 58 from I77. The deputy was unable to avoid the tractor-trailer and hit the rear end.
Deputy Bartlett died at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not hurt in the crash.
Sheriff John Gardner has released a statement saying, in part, "I ask that everyone keep Deputy Bartlett's family in their hearts and prayers during this most difficult of times. His loss is being felt by everyone within his "family" at the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, and our neighboring police agencies in Galax and Hillsville and the state police."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
The suspects in the original police pursuit have been arrested. Police say during that chase, they sped through a field and both the driver and passenger jumped out and ran off. Within minutes both were in custody-- one arrested by a Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy, the other by a Virginia State Police Trooper assisting with the pursuit.