Home New details released on crash that killed Virginia Tech graduate student
Region/State

New details released on crash that killed Virginia Tech graduate student

Crystal Graham
car accident investigation police rescue
(Stock photo © Wild Awake – Generated with AI – stock.adobe.com)

State Police released new details this morning on a fatal crash in Blacksburg Wednesday that killed a Virginia Tech graduate student.

Spencer Davis Woodson Forsling, 22, of Blacksburg, was struck by a Town of Blacksburg police vehicle as an officer was responding to an emergency call at 2:27 a.m. He died at the scene.

Forsling was a graduate student in electrical engineering in the College of Engineering with his focus on electromagnetics, a spokesperson from Virginia Tech told AFP. He came to Virginia Tech in the fall of 2021 and received dual bachelor’s degrees in electrical and computer engineering in the spring.

According to VSP, the investigation found that the police vehicle had emergency lights and signs activated as the officer travelled on North Main Street, next to campus. The officer was responding to a structure fire call.

The traffic light was also green when the officer went through the intersection with Roanoke Street where Forsling was struck, according to VSP.


ICYMI


Virginia State Police is handling the investigation at the request of Town of Blacksburg Police Chief John Clair.

When the investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for review.




Multimedia

 

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

Latest News

soccer
Go 'Hoos

Soccer: #11 Virginia falls to #16 High Point, 3-2, drops to 0-2 on the season

police court law
Football, Go 'Hoos

UVA Football: List of high-profile arrests of players dating back to the ’80s

The news of the arrest of a UVA Football player, Solomon Beebe, last week, got me to undertake an exercise that turned out to be more work than I would have imagined: chronicling the high-profile arrests of guys from our football program over the years.

dairy farms
State Politics

Spanberger goes where Ben Cline won’t, shaming Trump on efforts to kill beef industry

Donald Trump plans to import 300,000 metric tons of cheap ground beef, we can’t get our congressman, Ben Cline, to comment on how this will kill the local beef industry, but the governor, Abigail Spanberger, is going to bat for people who wouldn’t vote for a Democrat in a million years. “This policy will directly...

police arrest night crime accident
Region/State

Two women found dead at Bristol hotel; police arrest suspect after shootout

concert music
Arts & Culture

Waynesboro: A Band Called Honalee coming to the Wayne Theatre

canada
State Politics

New Trump tariffs on Canada will hit Virginia business, industry pretty hard

uva football
Football, Go 'Hoos

UVA Football: Free tickets for Charlottesville City Schools families, staff