Home State Police investigating fatal crash in Mecklenburg County
Virginia

State Police investigating fatal crash in Mecklenburg County

Chris Graham

Shortly before 1 p.m. this afternoon (July 31), Trooper J.J. Kempo was called to the scene of a fatal crash on I-85 in Mecklenburg County.

virginia state policeA 2004 BMW sedan was traveling southbound on I-85 near mile marker 8 when it veered off the road onto the shoulder, striking a stationary 2006 International highway maintenance truck. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.

The front seat passenger – Rita A. Pettiford, 65, of Plainfield, NJ – was pronounced dead at the scene.

Roy Moss, 67, of Plainfield, NJ, who was driving the BMW, 30-year-old Jestine T. Pettiford and a five-year-old female were all transported to Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.  A pair of two-year-old boys was also transported with minor injuries.

A 13-year-old female in the BMW was transported via MedFlight to VCU Medical Center in Richmond with serious injuries.

The driver of the highway maintenance truck – Malcolm J. Williams, 44, of Colonial Heights – was uninjured.

Moss is charged with reckless driving and three counts of failure to use a child seat.

The Virginia State Police Appomattox Division Crash Reconstruction Team is assisting with the ongoing investigation.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

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