ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607180052
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: NARROWS
A head-on collision between a dump truck and a pickup left a Narrows man dead Tuesday and the other driver with minor injuries.
James Austin Johnston, 43, was killed instantly when he drove his pickup into the lane of an oncoming dump truck on Virginia 61, according to state police.
Trooper Steve Hall said the accident occurred just before 4 p.m., about one mile west of the town limits.
The driver of the dump truck, Michael Eugene Davis, 36, told Hall he pulled over as far as he could, but could not avoid the collision. Davis was driving north on Virginia 61 and the side of the road he was being forced toward is bordered by Wolf Creek.
"I believe he [Davis] would have driven into the [creek] if he thought he could have avoided him," Hall said.
Hall said Davis noticed Johnston was looking to the right as he was driving. Davis blew his horn to get Johnston's attention, but Johnston never turned his head.
Rescue workers took Davis to Giles Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.
Johnston is survived by his wife, Heida Johnston, and two adult children, Michael and April Johnston, all of Narrows.
Heida Johnston said her husband was an avid hunter who followed NASCAR racing and loved his family. He also worked for the Hoechst-Celanese Corp. for the last 17 years. He would have celebrated his 44th birthday on Tuesday.
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB