Five Killed in Virginia Vehicle Crash
The SUV overturned several times, and landed on top of a truck.
Jan. 20--ONANCOCK -- Five people -- four young men and a 2-year-old boy -- were killed overnight and two more people are hospitalized today with serious injuries after a horrific crash in Accomack County on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
Sgt. D.S. Carr, a State Police spokesman, said the collision occurred when a sport utility vehicle swerved across the median of a four-lane road, overturned and crashed into an oncoming pickup truck.
The victims from the SUV were identified by Carr as Jared Randolph Atkinson, 21, of Wachapreague; Justin Carter Bradshaw, 21, of Harborton Road in Harborton; Jonathon Paul Nolz, 21, of Meadville Drive in Onancock; and Jereme James Parks, 20, of Evergreen Lane in Melfa. No street address was available for Atkinson.
The boy, a passenger in the pickup truck, was identified as Jose Antonio Chapa. He died at the scene, Carr said.
The boy's mother and the driver of the pickup, identified as Angela Jean Moore, 28, of Keer Street in Onancock, was trapped for a time in the wreckage. After being freed by rescue crews, she was flown to the trauma center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital by the Nightingale helicopter ambulance.
Her condition was not available this morning, but Carr described Moore's injuries as life threatening.
The fifth occupant of the SUV, identified by Carr as Tomas Justin Hrubbs, 24, also was flown to the trauma center at Norfolk General Hospital by Nightingale. His condition as well was described as life threatening. His street address was not available.
The crash happened about 10:20 p.m. on Market Street, Va. 179, in Onancock, just three-tenths of a mile west of U.S. 13, the major north-south route along the Eastern Shore.
Based on results of a preliminary investigation, Carr said it appeared that a 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Atkinson was heading east when it ran off the roadway to the right.
"The driver overcorrected," Carr said, and the SUV then ran back onto the roadway into the westbound lanes. It struck a curb, overturned several times and then landed on top of a 1996 Chevrolet Silverado pickup.
In the aftermath of the wreck, and as news of it spread quickly through the small community, relatives of several of those involved in the crash arrived at the scene.
Of all seven people, only Moore was wearing a seat belt, Carr said. But her son was not restrained in a safety seat.
The crash is being investigated by Trooper W.W. Williams with the assistance of a State Police crash reconstruction team.
Carr said no charges will be filed as a result of the crash.
Investigators will have to await the results of toxicology tests to learn whether alcohol was a factor in the crash, Carr said, and the speed of the vehicles at the time of the wreck has not been determined. The speed limit in the area is 45 mph.
Carr said the crash reconstruction team will attempt to determine speeds of the two vehicles.
Reach Steve Stone at (757) 446-2309 or
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