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

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

Crystal Graham
Culpeper Virginia ambulance
(© Matt Gush – stock.adobe.com)

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.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of 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 on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.