Reporter: David Tate
Bedford Co., VA - Officials have released the name of the driver in the fiery wreck that killed two people in Bedford County last night.
The driver of the truck was Andrew "Jody" Heck, Jr., 44, of Goodview.
State police say Heck was driving his pickup truck down Mill Iron Road when it really picked up speed, going airborne at some train tracks before slamming into the Goodview Grocery store. The truck then burst into flames.
There are still some questions including who was the passenger who was trapped in the wreckage and burned beyond recognition.
However, Heck's family members say there is no doubt the second person killed was one of Heck's best friends.
Jody Heck's fiancée Michelle Lawhorn is still trying to understand what happened, how he lost control of his truck ultimately ending with two deaths.
"I just can't believe it. I talked to him just 15 minutes before the accident, and then he was gone. Just like that. He was gone," said Lawhorn.
Jason Lewia happened to be on the scene before firefighters arrived and like everyone else could only watch as the truck burst into flames with a victim trapped inside.
"They pulled the driver out but they couldn't get the passenger out because he was pinned down," said Lewia.
State police say Heck was coming down Mill Iron Road hit these tracks and went airborne before slamming into the Goodview Grocery. A store owner worked to put the flames out that had quickly spread to his store.
His efforts were just enough until volunteer fire crews arrived. By then, it was too late for the victim in the truck.
Crews took Heck to the hospital in a helicopter, but he died a short time later.
"Neither one of them suffered. And I feel for the other family. I really do. They were really good friends. Every day they talked to each other and they died, they died together," said Lawhorn.
Family members believe Heck may have suffered from a medical issue prior to the wreck, saying that he had been recently complaining of chest pain.
Other than that, they have no explanation for why he would have been driving so fast over an elevated train crossing on a road he was very familiar with. It's less than a quarter mile from his father's home.
Reporter's note: Ms. Michelle Lawhorn was incorrectly identified in my on air story. I regret the error.
Goodview Grocery Store
