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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 Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

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