Joseph Merrell was a plastic surgeon who, among other things, worked with Operation Smile. He died after his SUV ran off the road and hit a tree.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A man who died after his SUV left the roadway and hit a tree in Chesapeake on Tuesday was a well-known plastic surgeon from Suffolk.

Dr. J. (Joseph) Craig Merrell was on Route 58 eastbound getting onto the ramp to Interstate 664 northbound around 3:30 p.m. His SUV ran off the road, went down an embankment, and hit a tree.

Merrell, 65, who lived in the 2000 block of Fairway Drive in Suffolk, died there.

Merrell was a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. His practice, Plastic Surgery Associates of Tidewater, is located in the Harbour View area. He opened the practice in Hampton Roads in 1983.

Merrell graduated from the University of Virginia. Besides working in private practice, Merrell served as the Chief Medical Officer for Operation Smile at one point.

The co-founders of Operation Smile, Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, shared this statement with 13News Now:

The Operation Smile family mourns the passing of one of its own. Dr. Craig Merrell was a credentialed Plastic Surgeon volunteer and Team Leader on 25+ Operation Smile missions in the 1990s and early 2000s. He also served as the Chief Medical Officer for the organization. Without a doubt, Dr. Merrell was exceptional in every way. His passing is a huge loss to his family and the community. Dr. Merrell introduced microsurgery to Vietnam and was with Operation Smile on our first mission in 1989. For more than a decade, Dr. Merrell taught microsurgery to plastic surgeons in North and South Vietnam, under Operation Smile, resulting in sustainable centers in those areas. He touched so many with his commitment and talent to serve others. All of us will miss him. All of us are stronger people today because of him. Our love goes out to his family and his patients.

Although he was not employed by Bon Secours Health System, Merrell had privileges at a number of its facilities. A spokeswoman for Bon Secours provided this statement to 13News Now:

The Bon Secours community is saddened by the recent news, and extends its deepest sympathy to Dr. Merrell’s family, friends and colleagues. We pray that they feel surrounded by love and support at this time and always.

Merrell's family will receive friends on Sunday, September 1, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church, 4759 Bennetts Pasture Road, Suffolk.

His funeral will be at the church on Monday, September 2, at 11 a.m.