From 4 p.m. Monday through 12 p.m. Tuesday, Virginia State Police troopers and dispatchers statewide fielded 3,363 calls for service statewide. During the period statewide, Virginia troopers responded to 1,035 traffic crashes and 1,023 disabled vehicles. The majority of the crashes involved damaged vehicles only. Due to vehicles losing control on slick roadways, two VSP troopers have been struck and injured. There have been two weather-related fatal traffic crashes in Virginia.
Loudoun County Fatal Crash: Monday night at 10:05 p.m., Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash in Loudoun County on Route 15 near Route 50. A 2000 Nissan Pathfinder was traveling south on Route 15 when the driver lost control. The Nissan slid into the northbound lanes and collided with a 2005 Kia Sedona. A backseat passenger in the Nissan Pathfinder, Javier Alexander Anzora, 40, of Purcellville, Va., was transported to Cornwall Hospital where he later died. Anzora was not wearing a seat belt. (This is all I have on the crash…no add’l detail on the driver or any other injuries)
Wythe County Fatal Crash: Virginia State Police Trooper J. Graham responded to a single-vehicle crash in Wythe County. The crash occurred at 12:50 p.m. Monday (Feb. 16)0 on Interstate 81 at the 58 mile marker. A 2006 Ford F-250 pickup truck was southbound on I-81 when it ran off the right side of the road and into the median where it overturned. The driver, Donald R. Taylor, 63, of Chilhowie, Va., died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. A passenger 16-year-old female passenger was wearing a seat belt. She was not injured in the crash. It was snowing at the time of the crash and the interstate was snow-covered.
The following is a breakdown of calls for service by Virginia State Police from 4:00 p.m. Monday through 12 p.m. Tuesday:
Division I–Richmond (Metro Richmond/Northern Neck/Tri-Cities)
Traffic Crashes=252 Disabled Vehicles=199 Total Calls for Service=631
Division II–Culpeper (Fredericksburg/Culpeper/Warrenton/Harrisonburg/Winchester)
Traffic Crashes=107 Disabled Vehicles=119 Total Calls for Service=332
Division III-Appomattox (Charlottesville/Waynesboro/Staunton/Lynchburg/South Boston/South Hill)
Traffic Crashes=93 Disabled Vehicles=46 Total Calls for Service=261
Division IV-Wytheville (Wytheville/Dublin/Galax/Bristol/Vansant/Wise)
Traffic Crashes=53 Disabled Vehicles=121 Total Calls for Service=390
Division V-Chesapeake (Hampton Roads/Tidewater/Eastern Shore/Williamsburg/Franklin/Emporia)
Traffic Crashes=283 Disabled Vehicles=231 Total Calls for Service=747
A State Trooper was struck Monday evening while investigating a traffic crash. At 8:13 p.m., Trooper Carnell Draughn Sr. was seated inside his vehicle on I-264 at a crash scene in the westbound lanes just east of Frederick Boulevard in Portsmouth. A vehicle lost control and struck the trooper’s car. The trooper was transported to Chesapeake General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was released later Monday evening.
Division VI-Salem (Lexington/Clifton Forge/Roanoke/Blacksburg/Bedford/Martinsville/Danville)
Traffic Crashes=82 Disabled Vehicles=89 Total Calls for Service=317
Division VII-Fairfax (Prince William/Loudoun/Arlington/Alexandria/Fairfax)
Traffic Crashes=165 Disabled Vehicles=218 Total Calls for Service=685
VSP Trooper M.J. McSellers was treated and released today after being involved in a crash early Tuesday morning. Trooper McSellers had responded to a single-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-495 at the 45 mile marker in Fairfax County. He had pulled in behind the crashed vehicle when a northbound pickup truck lost control, spun out and struck the trooper’s patrol car in the rear. Trooper McSellers was seated inside his patrol car at the time of the crash and tried to steer his vehicle away from the disabled vehicle in front of him. But, the impact of the crash pushed his patrol car into the original car and then into the Jersey wall. The driver of the original vehicle was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Motorists are still being advised to stay off the highways as secondary roads are slick and hazardous. For their safety, drivers are advised to delay travel until later Tuesday so VDOT crews can continue to treat and clear the highways.
Drivers are also advised not to call 911 or #77 to find out about road conditions. These phone lines must remain clear for real emergencies. Call 511 for road conditions or click on www.511virginia.org.
If having to travel, drivers are reminded to do drive to save lives (#drivetosavelives):
- Clear off all snow from your vehicle – windows, roof, trunk and lights
- Add extra time to reach travel destination
- Slow speed for road conditions
- Increase driving distances between vehicles for increased stopping distance
- Buckle up and don’t drive distracted
- MOVE OVER for all stopped emergency vehicles, highway vehicles and two trucks.
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Chris Graham
