Our community is saddened by the recent tractor and tractor trailer collision that resulted in a Bedford County man’s death on Tuesday. Ralph Edward Reynolds or “Eddie”, beloved family member and volunteer at the D-Day Memorial was driving his tractor between his properties along route 221 in Bedford County. As Eddie was legally driving his slow moving tractor on the roadway an impatient tractor trailer driver struck his tractor attempting pass the tractor in a no-passing zone while Eddie was making a legal left turn. The driver of the tractor trailer has been charged with reckless driving.
At first it was reported that Eddie Reynolds had suffered serious injuries from the accident, but sadly the accident resulted in Eddie’s wrongful death.
There has been a wave of support for Eddie’s family and the Bedford farming community on social media. Hopefully, this support will result in increased awareness for drivers to be aware of tractors on the roadway in this beautiful, rural, agricultural community.
As we approach summer and vacationers begin their journeys through Bedford and Franklin Counties to neighboring Smith Mountain Lake, I hope that they, too, are made aware of the dangers they may pose to native Bedford and Franklin county farmers if they do not drive carefully and watch out for tractors.
Drivers in these beautiful communities simply must slow down, be patient and think about driving.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Mr. Reynolds and with the farming communities in the Roanoke Valley. Eddie’s death is a grim reminder of the risks these folks take every day when they simply go to work.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a tractor accident, call The Thomson Law Firm for a FREE consultation today. Call (877) 471-3353 or click here to submit a contact form by email.
