ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man is dead after a crash on the Blue Ridge Parkway earlier this week.
Ian Mills, 44, was killed in Monday's crash that happened around 3 p.m. near milepost 132 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Curtis Mills, the Senior Vice President of Facilities Services and Property Management Services at Carilion Clinic, and his wife, Donna, were injured in the crash.
Carilion Clinic released the following statement:
"Earlier this week, we learned of a car accident involving our friend and colleague Curtis Mills, his wife Donna and their son Ian. We’re focused on supporting Curtis and his wife as they recover from their injuries, and we are grieving with them as they mourn the tragic loss of their son. At this difficult time, the Mills family has requested privacy." -- Carilion Clinic
Ian Mills worked for Big Apple Circus as a chef. A spokesperson for Big Apple Circus said they are "devastated" and added, "Ian was a beloved member of our community."
The National Park Service says the Mills' car swerved off of the parkway down an embankment and the other car caught fire after the crash.
When rangers and local rescue crews arrived, they found that Ian Mills was dead.
Authorities say the driver of the car that caught fire had no passengers. The driver was taken to the hospital after the crash.
Officials say the Blue Ridge Parkway will remain closed from milepost 121 to 126 as crews assess road damage that resulted from the car fire. There is no estimate on when that area will reopen.
The investigation is ongoing.