Culpeper woman dead in head-on collision; D.C. man faces reckless driving charge

A two-vehicle crash in Rappahannock County on Tuesday killed an 82-year-old woman from Culpeper.

Shirley A. Whittington died at the scene, according to Virginia State Police Sgt. Brent Coffey.

The accident occurred at 11:42 a.m. on Route 522 (Sperryville Pike), approximately six-tenths of a mile south of Route 604 (Round Hill Road).

According to VSP, a 2006 Chevrolet C5500 was traveling north on Route 522 when it ran off the right side of the road, collided with a bridge abutment, continued back across the center line and collided head on with a 2004 Honda CRV traveling south.

Elman S. Hernandez Guerra, 28, of Washington, DC., the driver of the Chevrolet, has been charged with reckless driving – failure to maintain proper control. He received minor injuries and was transported to UVA Culpeper Medical Center for treatment.

The driver of the Honda, Loyel M. Whittington, 73, of Culpeper, suffered serious injuries and was transported to UVA Health.

Shirley Whittington was a passenger in the Honda.

The crash remains under investigation.