A large tree that fell across the highway led to three crashes in the 12,500 block of Farmville Road in Prince Edward County early Monday morning, according to Virginia State Police (VSP).

“The first of three crashes at this location — Route 15, approximately a half mile north of Route 744 — occurred at 5 a.m. on July 8, 2019 in Prince Edward County,” VSP Public Relations Director Corinne N. Geller said. “A 2005 Nissan Quest was driving south on Route 15 when it struck a tree that had fallen across the highway.”

She noted that the driver, James N. Redd, 67, of Cullen, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was wearing a seat belt.

“At 5:05 a.m., a 2010 Toyota Corolla traveling north on Route 15 struck the same tree,” Geller continued.

She said the driver, Christopher A. Cooke, 26, of Keysville, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries. He was wearing a seat belt and was charged with driving on a suspended license.

“As Trooper A. Trombley was investigating those two crashes, a third crash occurred at 5:15 a.m. when a northbound 2007 Jeep Compass struck the tree,” Geller said.

She added that the Jeep’s driver, Troy W. Gordon, 52, of Pamplin, was not injured in the crash. He was wearing a seat belt, and he was also charged for driving on a suspended license.

“(Virginia Department of Transportation) responded to the scene to remove the tree,” Geller said.

Agencies responding to the crashes included Meherrin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Inc., which was first on the scene, Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad (PEVRS), Charlotte County Rescue Squad and VSP, cited Meherrin Fire and Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Leon Scott.

Scott described what he saw at the scene of the crashes, which he said took place right at Whispering Wood Road and Farmville Road.

“It looked like it was a big oak tree (that) fell across the road sometime early morning, and the first car ran into it, hit it pretty solid,” he said. “And then the second car — well, the second van — was coming northbound, and he ran into it. And then another vehicle going southbound, he ran into it, and that hit the tree. It hit it so hard it knocked the van back, and the van went off the road over on the southbound side.”

He noted that Meherrin Fire and Rescue and PEVRS each transported one of the drivers to Centra Southside Community Hospital in Farmville. The third driver opted to leave the scene in a privately owned vehicle.