A Sunday morning drive on Interstate 64 ended in tragedy for Alexander Lloyd Chaplin, 38, and Jack Philip Oppenheim, 27, after the 2016 Nissan Rogue they were traveling in left the highway, overturned down an embankment and caught fire. Both men, who lived in Henrico County, Virginia, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash happened on westbound I-64, just before Exit 181B at Parham Road. It was reported during the early morning hours of Sunday, November 8, with police placing the time of death at approximately 6:30 a.m.
According to the preliminary investigation by Virginia State Police, the Nissan Rogue ran off the roadway and traveled down an embankment. The vehicle then overturned and caught fire, leaving both occupants dead.
The crash was particularly serious because the vehicle caught fire after overturning. However, police have not released details explaining how the fire started, how quickly it spread or whether it played any role in the deaths. Those details have not been established in the available investigation reports.
The identities of the victims were confirmed on Monday, November 9. Police identified them as Alexander Lloyd Chaplin, 38, and Jack Philip Oppenheim, 27. Both men were residents of Henrico County.
Investigators have not announced what caused the vehicle to leave the interstate. There has also been no official explanation of whether another vehicle was involved, and authorities have not released any findings suggesting what may have happened immediately before the crash.
The accident caused traffic problems for other motorists traveling westbound. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, the west center lane, right lane and right shoulder were closed near mile marker 182.2. Backups reportedly stretched about 1.5 miles while crews dealt with the scene.
The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team is assisting with the investigation. Authorities are still working to determine the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s departure from the roadway and the events that followed.
The deaths of Chaplin and Oppenheim have left their families and loved ones facing an unexpected loss. At 38 and 27, respectively, both men had lives beyond the highway crash that ended their journeys. Their names have now been publicly confirmed as the two people killed in the fiery wreck.
Police have not yet released additional findings explaining why the Nissan Rogue left the road. Until investigators complete their work, the exact circumstances leading to the crash remain unknown.
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