UPDATE: Bill Hight passes after succumbing to injuries
Aug. 7
It was erroneously reported from a police source last week right after the accident that he was hauling stone in the trailer to replenish the rip-rap.
Hight was hauling oyster shells to create a shell bed for growing oysters in front of his stone rip-rap at his home on the Rappahannock River when he lost control of the tractor and trailer and ended up in the river, said a source last week who was helping Hight at the scene.
Hight has successfully gone through two operations as a result of injuries that occurred from the accident. He remained in critical but stable condition at the VCU Medical Center in Richmond on Sunday, Aug. 4.
Urbanna businessman William C. “Bill” Hight was airlifted to VCU Medical Center on Monday, July 29, around 5 p.m. after the Ford tractor and trailer he was operating at his home on Kent Street in Urbanna turned over and, fell into the Rappahannock River, along with Hight.
Hight was hauling rip-rap oyster shells down a hill when he lost control of the tractor and rig. Kent Street was closed off for nearly an hour, while Middlesex County Rescue Squad members, Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Middlesex County Volunteer Fire Department members were all working the scene.
A Medevac helicopter flew in and landed near the Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department station (the Urbanna firehouse) on Virginia Street to pick up Hight. He was rushed to VCU Medical Center. A county police official said on Tuesday morning that Hight was listed in critical condition.
Hight is a well known business and civic leader in Urbanna and Middlesex County. He was the longtime owner and manager of Urbanna Auto and Marine store before the business closed and he owns several buildings in the Town of Urbanna business district
