Roanoke man expected to enter guilty plea in 2019 Rockbridge County gas station explosion case

Phillip Westmoreland’s attorney says a plea agreement will go before a judge Thursday

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. – Phillip Westmoreland is set to enter a guilty plea this week as part of a plea deal in a deadly Rockbridge County gas explosion in 2019.

The hearing is slated to take place Thursday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m., court records show.

Phillip Westmoreland has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in the 2019 Rockbridge County gas station explosion.

Westmoreland is said to be the one who delivered fuel to the South River Market gas station ahead of the explosion that killed four people.

The case was declared a mistrial in September after the jury was dismissed in August, as we reported.

Now, we’re told that both parties have signed a plea agreement, which will need approval from the Judge before it becomes official.

Dean did not share the details of the agreement, and 10 News has reached out to the Commonwealth’s Attorney for comment.


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Alli Graham came aboard the digital team as an evening digital content producer in June 2022.

Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.

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