Police continue to investigate fatal wreck

The Virginia State Police are awaiting autopsy results to learn exactly how an 85-year-old Churchville woman died following a single-car accident reported around noon Friday.

Sgt. David Cooper of the State Police said Virginia S. Harris, 85, of Deerpark Lane in Churchville, apparently lost control of her 1987 BMW when traveling on State Route 688. The accident happened 3½ miles west of Route 42 in Augusta County.

The car ran off the gravel road, went down an embankment and struck several trees, including one large tree at the bottom. Cooper said the doors of the BMW apparently jammed after a car battery cable came off.

He said an autopsy was needed to determine whether Harris died from the accident or from smoke inhalation. Police said they found evidence that she tried to start a fire with newspaper on the floorboard of the car in an apparent attempt to stay warm.

Cooper said the autopsy would also help in determining when Harris died. Her daughter last spoke to her at about 3 p.m. Thursday. Cooper said it is not clear whether the accident happened later Thursday or early Friday.