Workers were waiting at a Christmas party in Virginia. But the boss never made it

Charlie Bradshaw, 62, and his wife Sherri, 63, were driving to a company Christmas party in Virginia when a 30-foot tree landed on their SUV, according to the Martinsville Bulletin.

His employees at Triangle Electric Corp. were reportedly waiting for them at a steakhouse in a neighboring town.

The crash killed Bradshaw — owner of Triangle Electric and chief of the Horsepasture Volunteer Fire Department — and his wife, according to officials in Henry County. Their twin grandson and granddaughter were unharmed in the backseat, the Bulletin reported.

“Chief Bradshaw loved our community and served it well,” Henry County said in a Facebook post. “We are grateful for Chief Bradshaw’s service, unwavering courage as a first responder, and his dedication to protecting citizens. We are also very grateful for the sacrifices made for our community by his wife Sherri.”

Horsepasture is roughly five miles from the North Carolina border.

The Bradshaws weren’t far from company headquarters when “a large tree about 12 inches in diameter and more than 30 feet tall fell across the road and onto their vehicle,” according to the Bulletin.

An employee waiting at the restaurant who is also a volunteer fireman got the call, the newspaper reported.

Charlie Bradshaw was the owner of Triangle Electric, a private business offering electrical services in Virginia and North Carolina since 1965, its website states. According to the Bulletin, his son will take over the company.

Bradshaw had also been the fire chief in their small community since 2007, the Horsepasture Volunteer Fire Department confirmed on Facebook.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and our fellow members,” the post states.

The flag was flown at half-staff and the department functioned on a 48-hour stand-down over the weekend, WSET reported. Neighboring departments took over their duties while the department grieved.

Nickie Hairston, former deputy chief of the fire department, will reportedly serve as acting chief.

“I know he will be missed,” Hairston told WSET. “He was just like a big brother to me. We talked every single day.”