Home State Police investigating fatal crash in Mecklenburg County
Region

State Police investigating fatal crash in Mecklenburg County

Chris Graham

Shortly before 1 p.m. this afternoon (July 31), Trooper J.J. Kempo was called to the scene of a fatal crash on I-85 in Mecklenburg County.

virginia state policeA 2004 BMW sedan was traveling southbound on I-85 near mile marker 8 when it veered off the road onto the shoulder, striking a stationary 2006 International highway maintenance truck. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.

The front seat passenger – Rita A. Pettiford, 65, of Plainfield, NJ – was pronounced dead at the scene.

Roy Moss, 67, of Plainfield, NJ, who was driving the BMW, 30-year-old Jestine T. Pettiford and a five-year-old female were all transported to Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.  A pair of two-year-old boys was also transported with minor injuries.

A 13-year-old female in the BMW was transported via MedFlight to VCU Medical Center in Richmond with serious injuries.

The driver of the highway maintenance truck – Malcolm J. Williams, 44, of Colonial Heights – was uninjured.

Moss is charged with reckless driving and three counts of failure to use a child seat.

The Virginia State Police Appomattox Division Crash Reconstruction Team is assisting with the ongoing investigation.

 

Featured Video

 




Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected]. Support AFP by signing up for our newsletter and/or powering our work with a one-time or monthly contribution.

Latest News

justin verlander
Baseball

Where Goochland native Justin Verlander stands on all-time pitching charts

weather water drought temperature advisory
Virginia

Latest from the Drought Monitoring Task Force: Most of still in a drought

The Drought Monitoring Task Force says most of Virginia is still in a drought, which is fine, but they’re telling us that we’re in one here in Waynesboro, and we’re just not. Sorry, I’m not trying to tell the scientists how to do their jobs. But, we’re not. And officially, the Task Force did move...

cyber bullying
Virginia

Hatemailbag: The MAGAs come out in force for Abigail Spanberger

It seems that the MAGAs who like to help us make money by hateposting on our AFP Facebook page are confused about why their electric bills went up this year.

tomato
Local

Media Beat: Big news about a giant tomato plant dominates the headlines

school student child bookbag
Trump's America

Trump tax incentives taking ‘education freedom’ movement nationwide

police investigation
Local

Waynesboro Police offers ‘update’ on Westwood Hills shooting investigation

pit bull dog
Football, Go 'Hoos

UVA Football doesn’t have to pretend to be mad at the dog abuser anymore