The Page County Sheriff's Office confirms a fatal accident following an incident on Rt. 211 near Luray

LURAY, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) — A man believed to be suicidal died Friday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after leading Page County police on a chase.

The incident prompted nearby Luray High School to impose a curfew, but it was lifted later that morning.

According to a social media post from the Page County Sheriff's Office, the department received a telex from Rappahannock County authorities shortly before 9:15 a.m. Friday warning of a possibly armed and suicidal man heading toward their jurisdiction.

A Page County officer spotted the vehicle on Bixler's Ferry Road around 10:15 a.m. The driver's behavior became erratic when he noticed the officer, sparking a pursuit.

During the chase, the driver pulled out a firearm, the post says.

The pursuit ended shortly before 10:30 a.m. when the vehicle came to an abrupt stop on US 211. Officers used a drone to assess the situation and discovered the driver dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

US 211 remained closed for about three hours while investigators examined the scene. The body was taken to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy and identification.

The sheriff's office expressed its condolences to the family and thanked several neighboring law enforcement agencies for their assistance.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff's Office.

If you or a loved one is struggling with suicidal thoughts or feelings, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.