Update: Tuesday, 3:53 p.m. The victims in Monday’s accident have been identified as Abner Comete, 48, of Boynton Beach, Fla., Jacner Comete, 44, of Lauderhill, Fla., and Wilda Comete, 38, of Lithia Springs, Ga. Abner Comete is believed to be the driver of the passenger van.
A fourth passenger, Ronide P. Louis, 28, of Lithia Springs, Ga., who was in the front seat and wearing a seatbelt, survived. Louis was taken first to Augusta Health, and then to UVA Health, with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Update: Tuesday, 9:40 a.m. Virginia State Police confirmed three fatalities – two men and one woman – in a fatal train/passenger van crash last night in Stuarts Draft.
According to VSP, a 2019 Ford transit van was traveling along a private drive headed toward Wayne Avenue when it crossed train tracks located in the area. A train travelling northbound on the tracks struck the van and caused the van to roll over.
The passenger who survived, a woman, was taken to UVA Health with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt in the front seat, according to VSP.
No identities have been released. Virginia State Police is still working to notify next-of-kin.
The Augusta County crash remains under investigation.
Update: Tuesday, 8:25 a.m. Augusta County Supervisor Carolyn Bragg confirmed that three people in the 14-passenger van were pronounced dead at the scene. The 14-person van had four passengers. One passenger was taken to a local hospital.
The three dead apparently were not wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the van on impact. The injured passenger was wearing a seatbelt, her post read.
It is unknown if anyone on the train was injured.
“Please keep the people involved in this tragedy in prayer – the victims, their families, friends and co-workers; the crew members on the train and their families; and our first responders who answered the call,” Bragg wrote. “The lives of many people have been changed forever because of the events of last evening…
“As each of us moves forward from the tragic event of last night embrace life, hold tightly to those you love, make things right between those that you have conflict with, and be grateful. Life is short, and unpredictable.”
Bragg said the van was leaving a work site for the Wayne Avenue solar project. The crossing, she said, is on a private drive to a farm and not a public road. She said the railroad track is not gated and does not have signals.
The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office did respond to our request for more information this morning. The spokesperson said to direct questions to Virginia State Police.
Original story: Monday, 11 p.m. Virginia State Police is investigating a crash involving a passenger van and train in Stuarts Draft with three fatalities.
The call came in at 8:08 p.m. Monday night.
The accident occurred in the 100 block of Wayne Avenue in Augusta County behind Schneider Park, according to VSP.
WHSV is reporting that two men and one woman died in the accident. Another woman was allegedly injured, according to the report.
VSP, in a news release, said “there are reported injuries.” VSP did not confirm the fatalities and said no more information would be released this evening.
AFP has reached out to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office for more information.
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Crystal Graham
