Virginia State Police Sergeant Dies in Car Crash

An on-duty Virginia State Police sergeant died early Saturday after he was found in an unmarked patrol car that had veered off the road in Henry County,  reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch .

Virginia State police said Sgt. J. Michael Phillippi, 65, was discovered in the vehicle on state Route 57 about 2:20 a.m. after the blue, unmarked Chevrolet Impala veered off the right side of the road, struck a highway sign, crossed back over Route 57, ran off the left side and struck an embankment.

Authorities said the damage to the car was minimal, suggesting that it was not traveling at a high speed at the point of impact.

When rescue crews arrived, they found Phillippi seated in the car wearing his seat belt. He was taken to the Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, where he died.