A devastating Memorial Day crash in northwest Roanoke has left a family grieving the loss of 30-year-old Jose Saenz Ventura, who died after a violent two-vehicle collision at a busy intersection. The crash has also led to criminal charges against another driver, as police continue to investigate how the deadly incident unfolded in the middle of the day.
According to the Roanoke Police Department, officers responded around 11:23 a.m. on May 25, 2026, to the intersection of Lafayette Boulevard and Melrose Avenue NW after multiple reports of a serious crash. When officers arrived, they found a badly damaged Honda Civic and a Chevrolet Equinox that had already been abandoned at the scene.
Inside the Honda Civic, emergency responders discovered two injured occupants. Both were quickly transported to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment. Despite medical efforts, police later confirmed that the driver of the Civic, Jose Saenz Ventura of Roanoke, died from injuries sustained in the crash. The passenger survived but suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is recovering.
Investigators said the situation became more complicated when they determined that the driver and passenger of the Chevrolet Equinox had fled the scene on foot immediately after the collision. Police later located both individuals a short distance away in the 900 block of Crescent Street NW, where they were taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities identified the driver of the Equinox as 42-year-old Kenneth Lynn Campbell Jr. He has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony hit-and-run in connection with the crash. Officials allege that Campbell ran a red light while traveling westbound on Melrose Avenue NW, causing the high-impact collision with the Honda Civic.
Preliminary findings suggest that Ventura was traveling lawfully on Lafayette Boulevard and had a green light while attempting to turn left onto eastbound Melrose Avenue when the crash occurred. The force of the impact proved fatal for Ventura, leaving his loved ones in shock and the community mourning another life lost on local roads. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to review evidence and witness statements.
