APPOMATTOX COUNTY, Va. — ThinBlueNews remembers Deputy Sheriff Burlie W. Duvall III of the Appomattox County Sheriff's Office, who died in the line of duty while helping at a crash scene in Campbell County on August 6, 2026. He was 33.
The Officer Down Memorial Page records Duvall's End of Watch as Thursday, August 6, 2026, and lists the cause of death as struck by vehicle. The Appomattox County Sheriff's Office announced his line-of-duty death, according to reports by WDBJ, WSLS and WTVR.
Stopped to help at a crash scene
According to the preliminary Virginia State Police account reported by WDBJ and WSLS, Duvall and another Appomattox County deputy were traveling home from the Central Virginia Criminal Justice Academy when they encountered an initial crash on westbound Route 460 near Cabin Field Road. The reports say the deputies stopped to help and positioned their vehicles in the two left lanes with emergency equipment activated.
State police said a tractor-trailer approaching the scene swerved to avoid the emergency vehicles and struck Duvall. He died at the scene. Approximately seven other people were taken to hospitals with injuries that police described as non-life-threatening.
The crash remains under investigation by the appropriate authorities. Those details are preliminary and attributed to the law-enforcement account available at publication. ThinBlueNews will not speculate about causation, fault or any evidence not publicly confirmed by investigators.
A life dedicated to protecting others
In the sheriff's statement carried by WDBJ, Sheriff Robert N. Richardson said Duvall dedicated his life to protecting the community and gave that life while serving others. The sheriff remembered his courage, selflessness and commitment to duty, and asked the public to keep Duvall's family, the sheriff's office and everyone affected by the tragedy in their thoughts and prayers.
WDBJ also reported that Duvall previously served as a public safety officer at Centra. Centra's public safety chief remembered his commitment to protecting and caring for the community and said his legacy of courage and compassion would not be forgotten.
Deputy Burlie Duvall's End of Watch honors a public servant who stopped to help people in danger. We remember his sacrifice and the family, colleagues and community carrying his loss.
End of Watch
Deputy Sheriff Burlie W. Duvall III
Appomattox County Sheriff's Office — Virginia
End of Watch: Thursday, August 6, 2026
Age: 33
ThinBlueNews extends condolences to Duvall's family and friends, his fellow deputies, the responders at the crash scene and the Appomattox County community. Further family details are withheld out of respect for their privacy.
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ODMP maintains the national memorial record for fallen law-enforcement officers and provides resources connected to fallen officers and their families.
Sources and image attribution
- Officer Down Memorial Page: Deputy Sheriff Burlie W. Duvall III
- WDBJ: Appomattox County sheriff's deputy killed while assisting at Campbell County crash scene
- WSLS: Appomattox County sheriff's deputy killed while helping at multiple-vehicle crash
- WTVR: Virginia deputy killed in the line of duty
- ODMP donation page
Featured-image note: ThinBlueNews used the real ODMP portrait of Deputy Duvall and added a restrained memorial design with visible source attribution. No synthetic likeness or representative incident image was used. ThinBlueNews does not claim ownership of the ODMP source portrait.
This report may be updated as authorities release additional confirmed information. If family, colleagues or agency representatives see anything that should be corrected, please contact ThinBlueNews through our corrections and editorial standards page.