harrisonburg police car
Stock image courtesy City of Harrisonburg

A 21-year-old from Rockingham County sustained serious injuries in a crash Thursday night on Stone Spring Road.

The driver, Yuliza Bacilo-Corona, was airlifted to an area hospital.

According to police, the driver was travelling eastbound at speeds greater than 80 miles per hour when they went off the right side of the road, struck several signs and then a traffic signal pole before catching fire.

The single-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 7:15 p.m.

According to Virginia State Police, a Harrisonburg Police Department officer attempted a traffic stop of the driver of the Mercedes sedan, Bacilo-Corona. The driver, according to police, did not stop and instead increased their speed.

The police officer did not initiate a pursuit, according to VSP, but did call in the speeding vehicle.

Approximately one mile east, the same officer discovered the crash scene and stopped to help the driver.

A second officer also arrived and attempted to remove the driver from the burning vehicle. The two officers also attempted to extinguish the fire until additional resources arrived.

The crash remains under investigation, according to VSP.

Published by Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is a reporter and ad manager for Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at crystal@augustafreepress.com