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Virginia State Police investigating fatal Augusta County crash

Chris Graham

virginia state policeVirginia State Police Trooper S.J. Nicely Jr., is investigating a two-vehicle crash in Augusta County. The crash occurred Friday(March 10) at 9:45 p.m., on Interstate 81 at the 219 mile marker.

A 2007 GMC Savanna G3500 was traveling south on I-81 when it rear-ended a Toyota Tundra that was being towed by a 2000 International school bus. The impact of the crash caused the GMC to run off the right side of the road and strike a ditch.

The driver of the GMC, Vasil Pakhnyuk, 63, of Federal Way, Wash., died at the scene. He was wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the school bus, Julio Cesar Gomez-Orellana, 34, of Stamford, Conn., was not injured in the crash. He was wearing a seatbelt.

Speed was a factor in the crash, which remains under 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 his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

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