POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. — A heartbreaking crash in Powhatan County has claimed the life of Chance Burrell in the early morning hours of Saturday, September 13, 2025. The Virginia State Police (VSP) reported that the fatal incident occurred just after midnight along Dorset Road, leaving the community stunned by the sudden loss of a young life.
According to investigators, the crash involved a Toyota Camry driven by 36-year-old Edward Clayton Firestone II, of Amelia. Preliminary findings indicate that the vehicle lost control and veered off the roadway, though officials have not yet released further details regarding the sequence of events that led to the tragedy. Chance Burrell, who was in the vehicle at the time, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
VSP troopers spent several hours on Dorset Road conducting a thorough investigation, reviewing evidence, and interviewing witnesses. While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, authorities are examining speed, driver impairment, and road conditions as possible factors.
The death of Chance Burrell has sent shockwaves through Powhatan County, where he was remembered as a young man full of potential and deeply cherished by his family and friends. His sudden passing has left loved ones grappling with grief, describing him as someone with a bright future ahead and a personality that naturally drew people in.
Community members have already begun expressing their condolences, both in person and through social media tributes. Messages highlight Chance’s kindness, sense of humor, and the joy he brought to those fortunate enough to know him. “He always had a smile on his face and cared about others,” one family friend shared. “It’s heartbreaking to think his journey ended this way.”
Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that Edward Clayton Firestone II, the driver of the Camry, survived the crash. He has been identified publicly as part of the ongoing investigation, though officials have not said whether charges will be filed pending the results of their review. Firestone was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening.
As the community mourns, local leaders and safety advocates are once again urging caution on rural roads like Dorset, where serious crashes have occurred in the past. VSP continues to ask anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
For now, Powhatan County unites in sorrow over the loss of Chance Burrell, a life cut short in a devastating moment that has left family and friends with memories to hold onto and a grief too heavy to measure.
