A single-vehicle accident on the Blue Ridge Parkway involving an SUV has claimed the life of a Waynesboro toddler. Jaxson A. King, 2, of Waynesboro, died in an accident reported early Wednesday morning near Afton. At 2:12 a.m., Virginia State Police was called to the scene of the single-vehicle crash near the .8 mile marker on the Parkway, which is approximately 7/10 of a mile south of Route 610.
A 2011 Audi SUV was traveling south on the Blue Ridge Parkway when it crossed the center line and ran off the left side of the road. The vehicle went down the embankment and overturned at least one time before coming to rest approximately 80 feet below the parkway.
The driver, Miles A. Griffin, 23, of Churchville, Va., was transported to Augusta Health for treatment of minor injuries. He and the front-seat passenger, Kristina E. Via, 27, of Waynesboro, Va., were both wearing seat belts. Via was transported to UVA Hospital for treatment of serious injuries sustained in the crash.
The backseat passenger, Monica N. Ownby, 35, of Staunton, Va., was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the SUV. She was flown to UVA Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
King, the son of Via, had been secured in a child safety seat but the seat was not belted into the vehicle. King was transported to Augusta Health where he died later Wednesday morning.
Griffin was charged with reckless driving.
The crash remains under investigation.
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Chris Graham
