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Virginia State Trooper, Sgt. J. Michael Phillippi, was killed after an early morning crash in Henry County. He was found by first responders on Route 57 and transported to Martinsville Memorial Hospital, where he later died. The investigation is currently ongoing and Star News will bring you more information as soon as it becomes available.
Va. State Trooper dies after crash
SATURDAY JAN 11, 2014 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Va. state trooper dies while on duty following a single-car crash
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A trooper with the Virginia State Police has died while on duty.
Agency spokeswoman Corinne Geller says a rescue crew on Saturday found 65-year-old Sgt. J. Michael Phillippi still seated inside a Chevrolet Impala that had crashed into a road sign. Phillippi was working an overnight supervisory shift. He was taken to Martinsville Memorial Hospital, where he died a short time later.
The Henry County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about a vehicle crash on Route 57 near Route 9728 around 2:20 a.m. Geller says the crash is under investigation.
Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe held a moment of silence at the inaugural prayer breakfast in Richmond in honor of Phillipi.
Copyright (2014) Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Trooper died from medical condition, not Henry Co. crash
By Web Staff, news@wdbj7.com
Published On: Jan 11 2014 11:39:39 AM EST
Updated On: Jan 13 2014 05:22:40 PM EST
The Virginia State Trooper who died while on duty Saturday in Henry County died from a medical condition and not injuries sustained in a crash, according to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke.
Sergeant Michael Phillippi was found around 2:20 a.m. Saturday morning in the area of Chatham Road/Route 57, just west of Pennrail Road. Phillippi?s cruiser crashed into a highway sign. The car had little damage.
An autopsy revealed that Phillippi died of a medical condition and not from injuries sustained in a crash. Because of HIPPA laws, Virginia State Police can not reveal the type of medical condition that Phillippi died from.
Phillippi?s funeral is at 11 a.m. Tuesday at McCabe Memorial Baptist Church in Martinsville.
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The visitation for Virginia State Police Sergeant Michael Phillippi is from 6-8 p.m. Monday at McCabe Memorial Baptist Church in Martinsville.
His funeral is set for Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. A reception and luncheon will follow.
Phillippi died early Saturday morning after a crash in Henry County. He is the 60th trooper to die in the line of duty. Phillippi was a department supervisor.
?Highly respected for his leadership, strong character, integrity, and dedication to mission, Sergeant Phillippi was totally loyal to the troopers he supervised and mentored, and the community he served,? Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent, wrote in a news release. ?His death is being felt across the Commonwealth and especially within the Henry County-Martinsville region, where he has spent the past several decades on patrol.?
Phillippi spent the majority of his 42 years as a state trooper in the Salem Division's Area 42 Office, which includes the City of Martinsville, Henry County, and Patrick County.
Phillippi was born in Gate City. He is survived by his wife.
Several law enforcement officers from across the state are expected to attend the funeral. Because of the anticipated high turnout, Martinsville residents are asked to avoid the area near McCabe Memorial Baptist Church during the funeral because of traffic.
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The Virginia State Police are investigating an officer-involved accident.
When rescue crews got the scene on Route 9728 and Penrail Lane, they found a Chevrolet Impala that has crashed into a road sign.
Sgt. J. Michael Phillippi was inside the vehicle.
He was transported to Martinsville Memorial Hospital where he died.
Sgt. Phillippi was working the overnight shift for the Salem Division at the time of his death.
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Comments/Citation:
RICHMOND With heavy hearts, Virginia State Police are still investigating the cause and circumstances surrounding a crash involving a revered Department supervisor.
Saturday's death of Sgt. J. Michael Phillippi became the Department's 60th line of duty death.
At approximately 2:20 a.m., Saturday (Jan. 11, 2014), the Henry County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about a vehicle crash in the county on Chatham Road/Route 57, approximately 170 feet west of Route 9728/Pennrail Road. The crash investigation has confirmed that the blue, unmarked Chevrolet Impala was eastbound on Route 57 when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a highway sign. The car then crossed back over Route 57, ran off the left side and struck an embankment. The car suffered minimal damage, which suggests that it was not traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact.
When rescue crews arrived, they found Sgt. Phillippi still seated inside the crashed patrol car wearing his seat belt. State police were immediately notified and responded to the scene. Phillippi was transported to Martinsville Memorial Hospital, where he died a short time later. His remains have been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for autopsy and examination.
Highly respected for his leadership, strong character, integrity, and dedication to mission, Sergeant Phillippi was totally loyal to the troopers he supervised and mentored, and the community he served, said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. His death is being felt across the Commonwealth and especially within the Henry County-Martinsville region, where he has spent the past several decades on patrol.
The Virginia State Police Salem Division Crash Reconstruction Team is investigating the crash. The incident, to include the cause of death, remains under investigation at this time.
Sgt. Phillippi, 65, was working the overnight supervisory shift for the Salem Division at the time of his death. He has spent the majority of his 42 years with the Department assigned to the Virginia State Police Area 42 Office, which encompasses the City of Martinsville and the counties of Henry and Patrick. A native of Gate City, Va., he joined the state police May 1, 1971, and was promoted to sergeant in February 1990.
Sgt. Phillippi is survived by his wife.
James Michael "Mike/ Flip" Phillippi, 65, of 3080 Blue Knob Road, Martinsville, Va., died on Saturday, January 11, 2014.
He was born on February 25, 1948, in Kingsport, Tenn., to the late Nellie Benton Phillippi and James Henry Phillippi.
Mr. Phillippi served the Virginia State Police for over forty-three years. He was an active member of McCabe Memorial Baptist Church where he was a deacon, taught Sunday school, served on the pastor search committee, worked with the youth group, and was involved in all of the church?s activities. Additionally, Mr. Phillippi was a member of the Elks Club and the YMCA.
He was a graduate of Gate City High School in Gate City, Va., Hiwassee Junior College in Madisonville, Tenn., and East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn.
Mr. Phillippi is survived by his wife, Peggy Lawrence Phillippi of the home; beloved God-daughter, Addie Merricks of Stanleytown, Va.; sister, Susan Phillippi Kirk and husband Michael Kirk of Roanoke, Va.; brothers-in-law, Roger Lawrence of Collinsville, Va., and Charles Lawrence of Penhook, Va.; nephew, James Kirk and wife Ashley Kirk and son Knox Kirk (great-nephew) of Roanoke, Va.; nieces, Sarah Weaver and husband Randy Weaver and daughter Jolene Weaver (great-niece) of Surfside Beach, S.C., and Sheila Graybill and husband Rex Graybill of Summerfield, N.C., and son Sean Nester (great-nephew) of Greensboro, N.C.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at McCabe Memorial Baptist Church with Dr. G. H. Vaughan, Senior Trooper Jeff Lovell and Master Trooper Dickie Byrd officiating.
The family will receive friends at the church on Monday, January 13, 2014, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and other times at the home. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at Holston View Cemetery in Weber City, Va., with Dr. G. H. Vaughan officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to the McCabe Memorial Baptist Church Special Occasion Committee, 107 Clearview Drive, Martinsville VA 24112.
Norris Funeral Services, Inc. and Crematory, Martinsville Va., is serving the Phillippi family.
Online condolences may be made at www.NorrisFuneral.com
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