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Virginia State Police: One woman dead on I-64 after drunk driver strikes car in rear

Crystal Graham
Virginia I-64 crash with fatality
Images courtesy of Virginia State Police

A North Carolina man allegedly under the influence of alcohol and travelling at a high rate of speed on Interstate 64 caused an accident that led to the death of one woman, according to the Virginia State Police.

On Thursday night at 10:35 p.m., VSP responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-64 at the 170-mile marker in Goochland County.

According to police, a 2010 Dodge Challenger driven by Darien Boutchyard, 30, of Newport, N.C., was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck at 2019 Chevrolet Spark in the rear.

The driver of the Spark, Steven Schell, 22, of Newport News, received non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. The rear passenger in Schell’s car, his mother, Mary Elizabeth Schell, 58, of Newport News, was ejected from the vehicle. She died at the scene.

Boutchyard and his passenger, Kendra Lee Wright, 25, of Warrenton, attempted to flee the scene on foot but were apprehended by troopers, according to VSP.

Boutchyard was charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI 3rd offense, obstruction of justice, open container and felony hit and run. Wright was charged with being drunk in public.

This crash remains under investigation by VSP.

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.