A man from Christiansburg suffered severe injuries after the car he was driving apparently passed through a red light and was struck by an SUV on U.S. 460 in Blacksburg Saturday.

Robert F. Chester, 34, was taken in a helicopter to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital after the crash at the intersection of U.S. 460 and Southgate Drive about 10:30 a.m., said Blacksburg Police Department Sgt. Nathan O'Dell in a news release.

Chester was driving a 1996 Cadillac DeVille westbound on U.S. 460 when he apparently failed to stop at a red light at the Southgate Drive intersection, O'Dell said.

Lisa D. Cotting, 32, of Christiansburg, had the right of way, driving a 1999 Jeep Cherokee eastbound on U.S. 460. When she turned left toward Southgate Drive, O'Dell said, the Jeep struck the back left door of the Cadillac.

As a result of the impact, the driver's door of the Cadillac swung open, and Chester was thrown from the car, O'Dell said. Chester appeared to have been wearing a seat belt, O'Dell said.

One eastbound and one westbound lane of U.S. 460 were closed for about five hours after the crash, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Cotting was released from Montgomery Regional Hospital with minor injuries, and the crash remained under investigation Friday afternoon.

-- Jorge Valencia