Three people were killed recently on Virginia highways, according to state police.

Darrell D. Amerson of Virginia Beach died at the scene of an early-morning, single-vehicle crash yesterday in Norfolk.

Amerson, 20, was merging onto eastbound Interstate 64 from Interstate 264 about 1:35 a.m. in a pickup truck when he lost control, veered into oncoming traffic, struck a barrier wall and overturned. He was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene three hours later. Police say he was not wearing a seat belt.

Patrick N. Bernard of Rustburg died in a motorcycle wreck in Campbell County yesterday at 1:35 a.m.

Bernard, 32, was thrown from his motorcycle after running off the right side of state Route 738 and striking a culvert near state Route 1640. He died at the scene.

On Thursday, a 20-year-old man was killed after his car struck an unoccupied van at 2:50 a.m. on Bow Creek Boulevard in Virginia Beach.

Demetrius D. Collins of Virginia Beach died at the scene of the wreck after he lost control of his car, which hit two utility poles and the van. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, according to state police.

The fatalities brought the death toll on Virginia highways to 227 this year, compared with 261 at the same time last year.