JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Christiansburg's director of human resources said the town is working with Virginia State Police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to investigate the crash.

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Joshua Boley, an employee of the town of Christiansburg, was struck and killed by a white Dodge Durango on Tuesday morning while he was weed-eating along U.S. 460. Clay McCoy (left), the town's director of human resources, described Boley as hardworking. "It's put a big hole in everybody's heart," he said.

CHRISTIANSBURG -- A town employee weed-eating at the side of U.S. 460 was killed Tuesday when he was struck by an SUV.

Joshua Dean Boley, 22, of Christiansburg was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, just past the intersection of U.S. 460 East (Roanoke Street) and Pine Hollow Road, according to Sgt. Rob Carpentieri of the Virginia State Police.

The driver of the SUV, a 1999 Dodge Durango, was Amanda Willis Franklin, 27, of Shawsville, Carpentieri said. He said Franklin was driving east about 8:20 a.m. when she ran off the right side of the road and struck the guardrail before hitting Boley.

The SUV, with visible damage to the front end, still sat in one eastbound lane later Tuesday morning. Franklin was not hurt but was shaken up by the crash, Carpentieri said.

No charges have been filed against Franklin, he said. The crash remains under investigation, he said.

All lanes of U.S. 460 in that area were closed immediately after the crash and remained closed until about 1 p.m. while a crash reconstruction team investigated. Traffic was diverted onto Wayside Drive.

Boley was part of a three-person crew weed-eating that stretch of the road, said Clay McCoy, the town's director of human resources. Boley was wearing a reflective vest, he said.

McCoy said officers told him the road was wet but it was not raining at the time of the crash.

He said the town is working with state police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on the investigation.

"You never anticipate these things happening," McCoy said. "You try to take every precaution to make sure nothing happens," including offering safety training for employees.

McCoy said Boley began working for the town in April as a seasonal landscaping employee. He described Boley as a hardworking man who got along with everyone.

"He was very well liked and well thought of," McCoy said. "It's put a big hole in everybody's heart."

McCoy said counseling has been offered to the workers who were with Boley as well as to any town employees.

He said Boley's death had a big impact on town employees.

"We can't imagine what the family is going through," he said. "Our hearts are just broke for them as well."