Investigating Virginia State Trooper S.M. Cochran wrote in his report that a 2004 Sterling fire truck driven by Dennis Andrew Akers, 29, of Hillsville, was responding to a fire call when it approached a 1987 Ford Ranger driven by Joseph Glenn Semones, 69, of Hillsville.  

Cochran’s report states that the fire truck changed lanes to pass the Ford Ranger when the Ranger started to make a left turn into a field. The fire truck, while trying to avoid the Ford Ranger, lost control and overturned. Both Akers and a passenger, Michael Paul Martin, 33, of Hillsville, were transported from the scene by ambulance to Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax. Both were treated and released that night.